March 22, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 21, 1427

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LAHORE, March 21: Pakistan has offered to host the 2008 Champions Trophy. The offer was made by PCB Director Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf during an ICC meeting in Dubai on Sunday. Saleem told Dawn that no other member country offered to host for the 2008 Champions Trophy during the meeting despite the fact the United Arab Emirates was also interested in the event.

He hoped Pakistan would be able to host the Champions Trophy.

India are the hosts of the 2006 event. Four Asian Test playing countries had also submitted bids for the 2011 World Cup.

Saleem was also hopeful the bid of the Asian countries for the mega event would get support of seven countries.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh submitted a late joint bid on March 18 against a joint bid of Australia and New Zealand.

Saleem said though the bid was submitted after the ICC made an extension in the last date in February to March 20, the international body had appropriate time to declare the successful bidders in July.

He said various countries were interested in hosting the first Twenty20 World Cup.