Abu Dhabi and Dubai may host Pakistan's share of 2011 World Cup matches, it is learnt.

The International Cricket Council is looking into such a proposal by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

United Arab Emirates hosted a one-day series against Australia in April-May in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and a meeting of delegates from the ICC and the four host nations at Lord's yesterday did not rule the two cities hosting matches of the 2011 showpiece event.

"The options are that the games could be reallocated amongst the three other host nations, but we have not ruled out the prospect of some of Pakistan's games perhaps being played in what might be termed a fifth country," ICC chief David Morgan said after the meeting.

As per the previous decision of ICC Development International (ICC's commercial arm), Pakistan will not host any match, but Morgan said the IDI will again take a call.

Solid plans in place

"We have our plans in place for the majority of the matches, if not all of them, to be staged in the Indian subcontinent.

"It is the commercial board of ICC that has to make the decision in terms of the location of those 14 matches. Ideally it would be very good if the four host nations could come up with a recommendation. Whether that will occur or not is uncertain at the moment," he said.

The cricket Boards of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have also agreed to Pakistan getting USD 10.5 million as hosting fees of 2011 World Cup even if the trouble-torn country did not host a single match. As per IDI's previous decision, Pakistan will not host matches but the PCB will still be recognised as hosts and retain fees from its original allocation of 14 matches.

Each World Cup host country is guaranteed a payment of USD 750,000 for every allocated match, and co-hosts Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka accepted that if any of Pakistan's 14 matches were to take place in their countries, they would not be due a fee for hosting them.

"Pakistan remains a co-host and retains its host fees for the 14 matches originally scheduled to take place there before the decision to remove the country as a host location for the tournament," the ICC statement said.

No problems for the top three

"Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka all accepted that if any of those 14 matches were to take place in their countries, then they would not be due any fee for hosting them," it said.

Morgan ruled out switching the 2011 World Cup to Australia and New Zealand, the designated hosts of the 2015 event.

"We did discuss the possibility of giving the 2011 World Cup to Australia and New Zealand, but that is not an option. Those two countries will hold the tournament in 2015", he said.