Asian bloc to discuss Mumbai attacks

	Ijaz Butt will take over as ACC president at a tough time for the sport © AFP Enlarge

Leading figures from the Asian Cricket Council will meet in Colombo on Friday with the impact of the Mumbai terror attacks, and the consequences for subcontinent cricket, set to be a focal point.

Although not on the official agenda, the fall-out from the Mumbai atrocities will occupy a key part of the meeting. It is the latest terror-related issue to hit cricket in Asia, with Pakistan already failing to attract opposition due to teams not wanting to tour and the postponement of the Champions Trophy.

Suggestions that the 2011 World Cup could be moved away from Asia have been quickly played down, but the progress of planning for the tournament was already one of the main points on the agenda after the ICC asked for the boards to speed up their work.

The PCB's new chairman, Ijaz Butt, may also take the opportunity to discuss the upcoming India-Pakistan series. There is intense speculation that the series will be cancelled following the attacks in Mumbai but the final word is still awaited from the Indian government which will decide the fate of the series.

The meeting will also see Butt taking over as the ACC President, a post which has been vacant since Nasim Ashraf resigned as PCB chairman in August.

Sri Lanka Cricket will be represented by chairman Arjuna Ranatunga and Bangladesh Cricket Board director Ashraful Haq will also attend the meeting. There is still no confirmation whether BCCI president Shashank Manohar will attend the meeting or send a representative.