Bangladesh bids for 2011 World Cup (31 August 1999)

31 August 1999

Bangladesh bids for 2011 World Cup

Zahid Newaz in Dhaka

Dhaka has proposed to host the World Cup Cricket in 2011 in Bangladesh that made an outstanding debut in the last cricketing extravaganza in England in May-June.

A notice of demand in this regard was accepted by the Asian Cricket Council in its daylong meeting in Colombo Monday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President and Deputy Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Saber Hossain Chowdhury mooted the proposal in the ACC meet in the Sri Lankan capital.

"We proposed to host the World Cup Cricket in 2011. The ACC has agreed to take the proposal to International Cricket Council," Saber told private United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency.

He hoped that the ICC would accept the proposal following Bangladesh's successful holding of knockout world cup comprising all Test-playing nations in October 1998.

"Our boys' performance in last World Cup will be a plus," the BCB President said mentioning Bengal tigers' victory over mighty Pakistan and fellow ICC associate member Scotland.

The proposal by any nation to host World Cup Cricket is to reach ICC as a notice of demand through the continental council along with its approval.

Bangladesh in the demand notice has proposed that if necessary it will take cooperation from the sub-continental Test-playing nations of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka who already have experiences of hosting the cricket carnival.

The next World Cup is scheduled for 2003 in South Africa who staged a comeback in world cricket in 1992 after being banished for over two decades for reigning apartheid at home.

The 2007 World Cup Cricket is likely to be held in West Indies.

In another major development, Saber Chowdhury informed that the ACC meeting decided to allow Bangladesh to play the Asia Cup without fighting in the qualifying round after year 2000.

Now Bangladesh has to play ACC Trophy to qualify for the continental cricket tournament. Champions of the ACC Trophy could play the Asia Cup along with Test-nations Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

The ACC gave the green signals for Bangladesh to play in the Asian cricket summit without going through qualifying round following a proposal made by the BCB in the meeting.

Following another BCB proposal, the ACC also decided to arrange the Asia Cup after 2000 with six teams, including two qualifying through the ACC Trophy.

"It means the 8th Asia Cup will take place with Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and champions and runner-up of the ACC Trophy," Chowdhury said.

Quoting a meeting decision the BCB President further informed that the 7th Asia Cup would be held in Dhaka April 2-17 next year.

Test giants India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and host Bangladesh will compete in the tourney.

Source :: CricInfo365