The Sheikh Zayed Stadium at Abu Dhabi earlier hosted Pakistan’s five match ODI series against Australia with Dubai, and now Dilawar Mani, the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council is keen on stepping in for Pakistan again. In fact they are willing to host all of Pakistan’s international matches. He will meet the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt this week to discuss the possibilities of that option: "If asked (by the PCB), we are willing to organize all its international matches including the World Cup," he is quoted telling the Associated Press on Saturday. "It's difficult times for Pakistan and we want to help them."

Butt is currently in South Africa for the IPL final and will be meeting Mani as soon as he returns: "On the way back from South Africa, Mr. Butt will be making a stopover in Abu Dhabi and I will be meeting with him," Mani said.

Just recently Butt put forth an option of a financial-sharing arrangement of the event's hosting fee with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; but how that plan will work out, we do not know yet. The ICC will meet the heads of the four World Cup 2011 co-hosts, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dubai on June 3. "We will, as per the agreement we have all signed, submit a satisfactory security plan to the ICC for games in Pakistan," Butt said.

"Should that plan not be satisfactory then we will put forward a proposal for a neutral venue, be that in the Middle East or Kuala Lumpur. That process and procedure is part of the hosting agreement that we all signed," he added.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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