India's bid to host 2011 World Cup

SYDNEY, Tuesday (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) will consider a proposal to allow India to host the 2011 World Cup.

Brendan McClements, ICC General Manager of Corporate Affairs, told Reuters the issue would be discussed at the ICC's board meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Sydney.

"The final decision on where the World Cup will be held in 2011 won't be made until after the 2007 World Cup (in West Indies)," McClements said.

"But the board will be looking at the process in which bids are decided in the future. One of the things they are considering is opening up the bids to everyone."

Under the existing rotation system, Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to co-host the tournament in 2011 but India are leading a push to stage the event.

Asian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya has proposed that every third World Cup be held on the sub-continent because the region provides four of the world's 10 test playing nations, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The ICC will also discuss the possibility of changing their five year playing calendar to six years after complaints the current time frame was too congested. They will also consider an invitation to include cricket at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi as well as looking at the future of Twenty20 cricket.

The meeting coincides with the annual ICC awards, to be held in Sydney for the first time.

There are eight categories covering individuals, teams and umpires. The five nominations for player of the year are: Andrew Flintoff (England), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa) and Glenn McGrath (Australia).