| Despite perennial concerns over security issues on | | | | even being held in Asia may be under threat. |
| the Asian subcontinent, it was selected to host the | | | | The integrity of a World Cup event involving Pakistan |
| 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. The four Asian | | | | as a host may also be heavily compromised. In the |
| Test-playing nations- Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and | | | | 1996 World Cup, the West Indies and Australia |
| Sri Lanka- are scheduled to host matches in that | | | | forfeited matches played in Sri Lanka because of |
| tournament. The recent terror attack against the Sri | | | | fear of attack. In the 2003 World Cup, New Zealand |
| Lankan team and ICC officials in Pakistan has left the | | | | forfeited a match played in Nairobi for the sake of |
| short term future of Pakistan in doubt. | | | | safety. |
| No longer can it be said that terrorists in Asia do not | | | | The forfeitures had limited impact on the 1996 World |
| attack sportsmen. Sri Lanka and India have had | | | | Cup. However, New Zealand's 2003 forfeiture |
| terrorist strikes in recent time. However, the 2009 | | | | ensured that Kenya scraped through the group stage |
| terrorist attacks in Pakistan advanced the fears of | | | | with bonus points. Kenya went on to reach the |
| cricket playing nations significantly. If the security | | | | semi-finals on the back of that forfeiture- a result |
| officials in Pakistan could not protect one team in a | | | | that ultimately undermined the quality of the |
| bilateral series, how can they host multiple teams at | | | | tournament. The ICC is likely to factor this into the |
| the same time? | | | | hosting conundrum, especially with the 'old |
| Also, the attacks in Pakistan affect the other hosting | | | | establishment' (England, Australia, South Africa and |
| nations as well. Proximity and recurrent conflict would | | | | New Zealand) having security fears. |
| result in the fear of contagion as far as terrorist | | | | The attack against the Sri Lankan team has put |
| activity goes. The ICC is likely to review the ability of | | | | Asia's hosting of the 2011 World Cup in serious |
| Asia to host the 2011 World Cup as a result. Given | | | | jeopardy. One of the ramifications of that attack is |
| that India is such a major force in world cricket, it is | | | | that cricketers are no longer safe in Pakistan. Even |
| not going to be an easy decision for the ICC. | | | | Asian cricketers are not safe. With the 2009 edition |
| However, safety is a critical concern and is likely to | | | | of the IPL being moved to South Africa and |
| have more weight than India's economic | | | | Bangladesh not hosting any teams in the short term - |
| considerations. | | | | it seems unlikely that the third-largest sporting even |
| 2008 Champions Trophy was shifted from Pakistan | | | | will be hosted on the Asian subcontinent. There are |
| because of security concerns. These security | | | | still two years left, but the deep scars left by the |
| concerns existed long before the attacks against the | | | | 2009 assault of Sri Lanka's cricketers will be difficult |
| Sri Lankan cricket team in a bilateral series. Extending | | | | to ignore. |
| this logic, it is clear the chance of the tournament | | | | |