2011 Cricket World Cup
The hosts of the 2011 Cricket World Cup are to be decided by the International Cricket Council in 2006. Under the rotation system currently in place, the hosts should be Australia, although it would be expected that some games would be played in New Zealand. In October 2005, however, it came to the media's attention that the Asian nations, led by India may put in a bid that almost certainly would be able to outvote Australia's claim instead.
International cricket politics lie at the heart of the dispute. Since cricket is the most popular sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Asia is of fundamental financial importance to the International Cricket Council. However, historically, international cricket has been controlled by the Old Commonwealth nations of England and Australia, supported by (the then white) South Africa. The epicentre of cricketing politics has moved, over time, with the money, and the Asian nations, particularly India under the guidance of Jagmohan Dalmiya, looking for greater control in the direction of international cricket. Against this has been the fact that Australia have been the leading cricketing nation in terms of performance since the early 1990s, with South Africa and more recently England being the second-rated Test nation.
2011 Cricket World Cup (qualification)*
Cricinfo article on the 2011 World Cup*
Daily Times (Pakistan) article on potential joint India/Pakistan bid for the 2011 World Cup*
Manormamaonline.com article on the subcontinent bid for the 2011 World Cup*
Sportbusiness article on India's bid for the 2011 World Cup*
Sydney Morning Herald article on the 2011 World Cup
