Quartet bid for 2011 Cricket World Cup

The Pakistan, Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladesh cricket boards plan to make a joint bid for the 2011 World Cup.

The presidents of the Indian and Pakistan cricket boards told a news conference on Saturday the four countries would submit a signed bid to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the next few days.

"We have discussed this matter jointly and we feel that given the massive following for the game in South Asia it is apt we bid jointly for the World Cup," Indian cricket chief Sharad Pawar said.

Pakistan and India hosted the 1987 World Cup and Sri Lanka jointly hosted it with the pair in 1996.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan said although Australia was due to host the 2011 World Cup it had given an understanding it would withdraw in favour of a joint South Asia bid.

Pakistan and India have been demanding that the ICC should award World Cup hosting rights to South Asia after every two tournaments because the sport has a massive following and commercial market in the area.

The 2007 World Cup will take place in the West Indies.