Move 2011 World Cup out of Asia: Miandad

Islamabad:

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad called for the 2011 World Cup to be moved from Asia on Sunday, citing Australia's decision to boycott a Davis Cup tennis series in India because of security concerns.

The International Cricket Council removed Pakistan as a co-host of the World Cup following last month's attack in Lahore on the Sri Lankan team bus that killed seven people, while retaining India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as co-hosts.

But Tennis Australia's refusal to travel to Chennai in May to play India because there was an "unacceptable level of risk" should result in the cricket tournament being shifted from the region, according to Miandad.

"If Pakistan is not safe, what will you say about India where Australia refused to go and play Davis Cup, which is not a big team sport like cricket," Miandad told The Associated Press from Dubai. "(The ICC) removed Pakistan two years before the event, but unfortunately the security situation is not ideal in the three other countries.

"It will be better if the ICC awards the 2011 World Cup to some other non-Asian country. All the four Asian World Cup hosts could then be considered for the next World Cup in 2015."

Miandad, who played in the 1992 World Cup-winning team, said if the ICC does keep the event in the region then an "offshore" Pakistan venue could be an option, like in the United Arab Emirates where Pakistan is currently "hosting" Australia in a one-day series.

"Dubai and Abu Dhabi have excellent facilities, and if we can organize our home series against Australia in these two cities we can organize our share of (World Cup) pool matches here," Miandad said. "Security wise, these two cities in United Arab Emirates are ideal and even Australians are very happy with the security arrangements."

Last year, Pakistan organized a three-match ODI series in Abu Dhabi. After the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001, it played a test series against Australia in Sri Lanka and another against West Indies in the UAE because the teams refused to tour Pakistan.