WC hosts can play quarters, semis at home

Dubai:

The host countries of the 2011 cricket World Cup may get to play the the quarter-final and semi-finals matches in their home country if their teams reach those stages.

It means if Bangladesh reaches the semifinal stage it could host the match, though Colombo and Mohali are scheduled to host the first and second semifinal respectively.

The ICC Chief Executives' Committee has made a recommendation in this regard to the ICC Board, which will consider it in its next meeting. The recommnedation came in the CEC meeting here on Tuesday.

"The CEC supported a request from the Central Organising Committee that, where possible, host countries should play their quarter-finals and semi-finals in their home country.

"Where two co-hosts are involved, the higher-ranked side from the group stage will host the match. This recommendation will now be considered by the Board," an ICC statement said.

The quarter-final stage of the mega event, to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will begin from March 23.

In another important decision, a five-member committee, which also has BCCI secretary N Sriniwasan, has been formed to look into the context for Test and one-day cricket formats post 2012 Future Tour Programme.