India not to be blamed: ICC

ICC on Thursday dismissed Pakistan’s claims that India was behind the shifting of their 2011 World Cup matches and said the decision could have been avoided if the security apprehensions in the strife-torn country were responsibly addressed during the ICC Executive Board meeting.

“India had nothing to do with the decision. The decision was taken after consulting all the member nations.

There are all together 16 member nation’s in ICC and India is just one of them,” ICC Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat said.

“Had Pakistan done half as they are doing right now before the ICC meeting, the decision could have been avoided. We know many countries won’t tour Pakistan,” he said.

On the possibility of shifting Pakistan’s share of World Cup matches to neutral venues like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Lorgat said the ICC had not received any such proposal from the PCB.

“We have received no such proposal on neutral venue,” he said.

The ICC CEO, who was here to unveil ‘LG Lead XI campaign’ which will witness 15 children leading the Indian team on to the ground to participate in the national anthem ceremony, also expressed confidence of hosting a peaceful and successful 2011 cricketing extravaganza.

But Lorgat said in the coming days more security checks would be carried out in the venues of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“It’s a normal part of our process. We will still review the security in the other three host countries,” he said.