ICC concerned by 2011 World Cup venues

(GETTY IMAGES)

The International Cricket Council has asked the 2011 World Cup organising committee to consider alternative venues due to security fears.

The event is scheduled to be co-hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but with political tension growing between India and Pakistan, the ICC has requested alternatives be sounded out.

Security in Pakistan has been a major concern for several countries with Australia postponing a scheduled series last April and the Champions Trophy, slated for September last year, being postponed and subsequently moved away from the Asian country.

"It's a consideration that we have to give attention to," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said following a meeting of the World Cup organising committee today.

"This is not something we discussed today, except to ask the organisers to consider alternate host city venues within the country as well as alternate country venues in the event of something not being favourable in one of the particular host countries," he said.

Lorgat said the situation was not dire, but needed monitoring.

"We are committed to staging the World Cup in Asia," he said.

"I am aware of the current situation, but the World Cup is still a long way off.

"It is too early to be concerned, but we are monitoring the situation on a regular basis," he said.