ICC Conf to discuss Pak's WC hosting rights, Umpire Referral

London:

The contentious issue of Pakistan's hosting rights of 2011 World Cup, the Future Tours Programme post 2012 and recommendations by the Cricket Committee on umpires decision referral system will come up for discussion during the ICC Annual Conference from June 22-26 here.

International Cricket Council President David Morgan will present before the ICC Board on June 25 a report on recent discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board concerning the hosting of matches of the 2011 World Cup.

The annual conference will be kicked off with ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting at Lord's on June 22.

The two-day CEC meeting will make decisions on a range of matters relating to the playing of cricket as well as recommendations on the business of cricket for consideration and adoption or otherwise by the ICC Board, which will meet over two days on June 24 and 25.

There will also be a joint strategy session involving the CEC and the ICC Board on June 25. The week will conclude with the ICC's Annual Conference on June 26.

The CEC will consider recommendations made by the ICC Cricket Committee in its meeting in London last month on whether Umpire Decision Review System would be rolled out in Test cricket from October this year, feasibility of day/night Test, stricter penalties on Boards and venues found guilty of producing pitches considered "poor" or "unfit".

The ICC Board will also mull on the post 2012 FTP to ensure that it achieves a balance between and a proper context for all three formats as well as identifies the financial and other issues of imbalance among members.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, "The structure of international tour programme is the absolute key to ensuring the continuing popularity of international cricket and its financial well being. All Members accept need for a framework for that programme to provide certainty for stakeholders and a proper context for the matches that are scheduled.

"Exploring various options among ourselves and, more recently, our Members has been an ongoing process for the past year and now we must come together to provide certainty and context through a new FTP for the period post-2012."

The CEC and ICC Board in their joint strategy session will discuss key issues and challenges likely to impact on the future of international cricket.

This follows the ICC Chief Executive leading a process at the CEC during its meetings in Cape Town (December 2008) and Johannesburg (February 2009).

Morgan said, "This session is important because it brings together the Chief Executives and Chairmen/Presidents of all major Members. It will ask them to switch from considering the day-to-day issues and challenges they face and focus instead on the longer term future of our great sport. The idea is to seek to develop a shared vision of the future and a programme of action to shape that future for benefit of stakeholders."