Melbourne, Dec.1 (ANI): Given the frequency of terror strikes in both India and Pakistan and the unstable political situation in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, there is a possibility of the International Cricket Council (ICC) seriously considering a proposal to shift the 2011 cricket World Cup to Australia and New Zealand.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are scheduled to stage cricket's marquee tournament in February and March of 2011,but a meeting of ICC CEOs in South Africa next weekend is likely to consider putting another country or countries on standby to host the event.

According to Fox Sports, Australia and New Zealand will host the World Cup in 2015.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said safety and security issues surrounding the 2011 World Cup were "bound to come up" next weekend.

"It hasn't been talked about but that may well have changed out of this Mumbai incident but one would hope the World Cup and other events that are planned for various places in the sub-continent can go ahead as planned. But there will be plenty of things that will need to be planned in the fullness of time," he said.

Australia was put on standby to host the 2007 World Cup when it appeared the West Indies were labouring in their attempts to have new stadiums and general infrastructure built on time.

Sutherland said he did not know if another country had already been put on standby for the 2011 tournament, and was non-committal when asked if Australia would have enough time to prepare for the event if it was switched. "I don't know the answer to that," he said.

"It's something that down the track would need to be looked at, but we are very keen for it to go ahead where it has already been allocated. Let's see how things settle down after the tragic events of Mumbai."

ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald said there had yet to be any discussions about shifting the tournament.

An Australian team source said if the bloodshed and political uncertainty continued in the four cricketing nations then players may be loathe to make the trip.

Several tours of Pakistan have been cancelled for security reasons while Federal Government advice encourages Australians to avoid Sri Lanka (civil war) and Bangladesh (general trouble).

These countries are all but certain to resist any attempt to shift the billion-dollar tournament, even though the ICC recently criticized them for being 10 months behind in preparations.

Former Australian captain Greg Chappell said the Mumbai terror rampage will now change the players' perspective on India.

"It will have a profound effect, I think, on cricket and where and how tournaments are conducted," he said. (ANI)

London, Dec.1 (ANI): The England cricket team is set to return to India on Thursday or Friday to fulfil their agreement to play two Test matches later this month.

The ECB will present the players with a safety report today and is likely to confirm on Tuesday that the tour will resume later in the week. There are thought to be few security worries about Chennai but there is some concern about the team hotel in Ahmedabad, which is in the middle of the city.

The matches are likely to take place in Ahmedabad and Chennai, though Kolkata has been pencilled in as an alternative if the first of these venues is judged unsuitable.

The warm-up game due at the end of this week will now be played at, or near, the venue for the first Test, which is due to start in Ahmedabad on Thursday week, though everything is dependent on the England and Wales Cricket Board being satisfied about the security arrangements in India after the terrorist atrocities in Mumbai, reports The Guardian.

The board chairman, Giles Clarke, returned from business meetings in Colombia yesterday and the chief -executive, David Collier, came back early from holiday in the United States to take part in a -teleconference with members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

It is understood that the ECB is also talking to the Indian and British -governments, high commissions in Indian cities, -security advisers and other risk assessment experts in order to give the cricketers a thorough dossier on safety issues in India.

The ECB has also spoken to the -International Cricket Council and the Professional Cricketers' Association, with whom there has been a constant dialogue.

Hugh Morris, the England team's managing director, has already held informal talks with the players. Thoughts of moving the preparation to Abu Dhabi, or of returning to India in the New Year, before the players fly to the Caribbean on January 21, have been discounted.

The national selector, Geoff Miller, said pulling out of the Tests "will not count against" any player and wants only those sure about returning:"Players need to be on their full mettle.

There is no point in anyone going out there if their mind is on physical self-preservation. We need them performing with bat and ball. But, depending on the character involved, it might not be right for some."

He emphasised safety was his priority and said the captain, Kevin Pietersen, was doing a "ring-round to canvas opinion", with the result expected today or tomorrow.

Morris hinted that England would not have their first-choice side for the Tests: "At the moment nothing has been confirmed with any of the players.

We are committed, as it stands, to playing in those two Test matches, subject to safety and security advice. The support we've had in India has been incredible.

Cricket is a galvanising force in that country and that's got to be taken into account as well."(ANI)

New Delhi, Nov.21 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's directive to initiate criminal proceedings against six of its top officials for filing false affidavits that led to the expulsion of Jagmohan Dalmiya from the BCCI.

The High Court had found former president Sharad Pawar and five others guilty of perjury in a case relating to misappropriation of funds by ex-BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The Calcutta High Court had on November 12 directed initiation of criminal proceedings against BCCI President Sashank Manohar, former Board President Sharad Pawar and four top officials for filing false affidavits.

Justice Nadira Pathariya passed the order eight months after Dalmiya, a former BCCI president, moved a case of perjury against Pawar and the BCCI officials and pressed for criminal proceedings against them for allegedly producing false documents in court. (ANI)

Dubai, Nov.21 (ANI): Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has been officially reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against South Africa at Bloemfontein.

Mushfiqur was found guilty of showing dissent at an umpire's decision by Alan Hurst of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees at a hearing that took place after play concluded in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

The 20-year-old was found to have breached Level 1.3 of the code which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision".

"Mushfiqur left the crease immediately but he was looking at and touching the edge of the bat as he left. That is inappropriate and clearly unacceptable after an lbw decision," said Mr Hurst.

"The player has apologised for his actions and said he sincerely regretted this misdemeanor. This apology and his previous good record were taken into consideration," he added.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of a player's match fee.

The charge was brought by umpires Steve Davis of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Ian Gould, Marais Erasmus and Brian Jerling of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires.

Hurst reached his decision after a hearing attended by the player, umpires, Bangladesh manager Mohammad ul Huque and coach Jamie Siddons. For Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the match referee's decision is final and binding. (ANI)