ICC receives bids for future tournaments

The ICC has revealed 15 member boards applied for its package of events from 2007 to 2015. The submissions, which had to be received by the end of February, include five members seeking to host the Champions Trophy and seven targeting a potential Twenty20 event.

A representative from Australia and New Zealand's joint bid for the 2011 World Cup hand-delivered their submission document to the ICC office in Dubai on February 27. Australia and New Zealand's bid covers both the 2011 and 2015 events while England have submitted to host the World Cup in 2015.

Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, said that this was an unprecedented response from the cricket world. "This is the first time that we have run such a comprehensive submissions process and we have been delighted by the positive response from so many of our members," said Speed. "We have been impressed by the quality of many of the bids and they will present the ICC board with a good range of options when it meets to review the scheduling and hosting of these events in March."

Submissions for the Champions Trophy were received from Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and West Indies, while England, Malaysia, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and West Indies all followed up their expressions of interest by submitting to host a potential Twenty20 World Championship.

Interest in the women's World Cup is also high with India, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates all bidding for the event.

Ireland, Malaysia, Namibia and The Netherlands applied to host Division One of the World Cricket League or the World Cup Qualifier (formerly the ICC Trophy).

Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have requested an extension to the deadline to March 20 for the submission of their joint bid to host the 2011 World Cup. Bangladesh also requested an extension with regards to its bid for the Champions Trophy pending the receipt of certain government documents. Submissions from several Associate Member countries that had earlier sent "letters of intent" had not been received in time. The issue of late applications will be considered by the ICC executive board when it meets in Dubai later this month.

The board will consider recommendations made in February by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee regarding an annual events schedule that would include a Twenty20 World Championship and a shorter-format Champions Trophy. Once the board has determined a schedule of events it is also expected to make 'in principle' decisions on the hosting of many of these events.

Final approval on the hosting of the major events will be given by ICC at its annual conference in London at the start of July.