KARACHI, Feb 11: Pakistan’s cricket chief vowed on Wednesday to improve security arrangements for the 2011 World Cup and denied there was a risk to staging some of the games in the troubled country.

Pakistan would improve on the existing facilities for the World Cup while the International Cricket Council (ICC) would also make security arrangements, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt told the media in Lahore.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will jointly host the 10th edition of the four-yearly event in 2011.

“Most of the people have been happy with our security arrangements as the government is also involved and helping us, so we are confident that things will improve,” Ijaz said.

Earlier this month, security concerns raised by other teams forced the ICC to move the 2009 Champions Trophy out of Pakistan.

The elite eight-nation tournament was to be held in September-October this year but the ICC will announce a new venue in April.

The event was originally scheduled for last year but was put off after South Africa pulled out of the event and Australia, England and New Zealand showed reluctance to tour because of fears about players’ safety.

Australia, which has not toured the country since 1998, has also forced Pakistan to play their five-match one-day and a Twenty20 series on neutral venues in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah from April 24 to May 7 because of security concerns.

Ijaz said a joint meeting of the World Cup host nations will be held in New Delhi on Feb 17.

“We have to discuss the modus operandi and speed up things as we are one year behind schedule,” he said.

The ICC instructed the host nations to accelerate preparations last year.—AFP