NEW DELHI, Feb 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked 2011 World Cup organisers to plan alternate venues if it becomes difficult to play in Pakistan due to security concerns.

“It is a consideration that we have to give attention to,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told reporters on Tuesday after a World Cup organising committee meeting.

“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 something is not favourable in one of the particular host countries.”

The premier one-day tournament will be hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Lorgat said there was no need yet for major concern. “I think it is still a long way off to the World Cup,” he stated. “It is certainly a consideration to keep note of but it is way too early to be already concerned at this particular stage.”

Pakistan did not play a single Test last year after teams, including Australia, refused to travel.

This month the ICC took away this year’s Champions Trophy from Pakistan after postponing the prestigious one-day event from last September over a possible boycott by five of the eight teams. A new venue is yet to be announced.

Strained relations between India and Pakistan after the militant attacks in Mumbai last November have added to the uncertainty over the tournament scheduled for early 2011.

“I think it is way too early to be presumptuous and assume that things won’t work,” Lorgat added. “When we come close to the event, obviously we have to pay much more attention to the issues like safety, security and relations between the countries.

“But I can assure you at this stage we are planning a World Cup for all four countries.”

Last November, the ICC asked the organisers to speed up preparations, saying they were 10 months behind schedule. —Reuters

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