The New Zealand Cricket (NZ) chief executive, Justin Vaughan has said that the board had been asked by the ICC, along with Australia, to remain on stand-by as the hosts for the 2011 edition of the World Cup. The tournament is to be played in the Indian sub-continent, with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as the three hosts of the tournament.

The reason behind this is said to be the terror threat that one of the extremist groups has doled out to any sporting event in India, that includes the likes of the Hockey World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the 2011 edition of the World Cup.

Earlier, the tournament was going to be held in Pakistan as well, but the security issues in the country made it impossible countries to tour the country. The last straw was the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in February last year, that ensured that the entire international cricketing fraternity refused to allow them to host the World Cup.

Vaughan also acknowledged that India was the most important country in the world of cricket at this moment and one could not discount that fact. He also added that if the provided security was right, “I would go to Iraq”

In a report commissioned by the players’ associations of England, South Africa and Australia, the advice coming from Reg Dickason is that terror threat is creditable and security cannot be totally guaranteed.

Given that the Indians will be playing in their own country, they go into the tournament – which is more than one year away – as favourites; Coral offering 7/2 for their victory. However, on the two occasions that the tournament was played in India, they have entered the semi-finals of both only and lost to England and Sri Lanka respectively.

Ladbrokes offers 6/1 for Sri Lanka to repeat their glory of 1996 when they had beaten Australia (9/2 at Boylesports to defend the tournament); the last time that Aussies had lost in a World Cup final. However, if the tournament does shift down under, then the odds could change in the favour of the Australian side.

Often touted as chokers, South Africa, who has yet to win a single World Cup are at 13/2 (Totesport) to make it for the first time.