Cricket: World Cup vote faces deadlock

THE International Cricket Council, the sport's ruling body, is set for a fractious meeting and possible deadlock when it meets at Lord's today to decide the venue for the 1995 World Cup.

Delegates from all 28 cricketing nations are due to decide whether England or a tripartite force of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka should play hosts.

But the ICC's convoluted set of rules mean a clear-cut conclusion is unlikely. England's pounds 5m bid is slightly less than that being offered by their rivals. The real battle, however, is over voting rights.

According to the constitution, the successful candidate will need a majority of the 37 votes available with the 'big nine' - England, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Zimbabwe - having two each and the 19 associate members, such as Bangladesh and Argentina, one each.

In addition, a two-thirds majority (6-3) of the big nine is required, plus the support of at least one of the two 'founder members' - England and Australia.

At least the council should be able to agree today whether the England captain, Graham Gooch, completed a century of first-class centuries with last week's unbeaten hundred in India. Members have been asked to rule on the validity of scores made during rebel tours to South Africa - one of which, in 1982, saw Gooch make 109 against the Springboks.