Asian countries set to bid jointly for World Cup

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh agreed to make a combined bid for the 2011 cricket World Cup but have sought time to finalise the bid document.

Sharad Pawar, the Indian board's president said, "Since there are a lot of financial matters to be sorted out we have asked the ICC to give us time to send the bid. It is not easy to ignore a bid when India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh decide to come together."

Shahryar Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board president, Duleep Mendis, the Sri Lankan board's CEO and Mohammed Azghar Ali, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president were the others who attended a meeting for the bid at New Delhi on Friday.

"The ICC has asked us to give several details and we need time for that," said Khan. "But we are confident after having already individually notified the ICC about our intentions."

The region has held two World Cups in the past. India and Pakistan organised the 1987 edition, while India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were joint hosts of the 1996 World Cup. Representatives of the boards are scheduled to meet at Mohali on March 12 for further discussions before sending the detailed bid.