Promise of profit won Asia the bid - Bindra

IS Bindra, the chairman of the Asian Bid Monitoring Committee, has said that it was Asia's promise of churning out $ 400 million extra in profits which helped them clinch the rights to host the 2011 World Cup ahead of Australia and New Zealand.

"It was our presentation in which we stressed that $400 million extra could be raked in by hosting the Cup in the subcontinent that finally turned the case in our favour," said Bindra. He added that had it not been for the magnanimity shown by the ICC, which allowed them to file their bid a day before the final deadline; they could have as well lost the bid.

"It's a miracle that we were able to finally file the Compliance Bid on April 20, a day before the final deadline. After being informed by the Pakistan board officials about presenting the joint bid, we came to know that we were utterly lacking in completing the formalities. Then February 28 was the last date to file the bid. I along with Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah [Indian Board officials] flew down to Dubai for filing of documents. We spent two days in ICC office trying to understand the formalities to be completed."

Bindra said they had sought time from Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, and pleaded at the meeting of the ICC board that due to the regime change of the Indian Board a lot of things were still in transition, due to which lot of time had been consumed. "In between taking permissions from the highest Governmental levels and not talking about the problems we faced with Bangalore and Kolkata associations, we finally filed the bid on April 20."

Bindra also said that India could host the final of the 2011 World Cup."There is a rotation policy in place. India hosted the final in 1987 while the 1996 final was played in Pakistan. Going by the same principle, India should host the final.

"Anyway, we don't want any public debate on the venue for the final. Everything will be discussed when all the four boards sit down together. We would have our first meeting by June because we don't have much time left. It may seem that it's still five years away but there is so much to do and you will never know as the time will run out."