Mumbai, Apr. 28 : India will get the lion’s share of the 2011 World Cup matches, given the unstable and precarious security and political situation in the three other host countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Addressing a press conference here, International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat said that India will host 29 matches in eight venues, Sri Lanka would host 12 matches in three venues and Bnagladesh would host eight matches in two venues, adding that in all, 49 matches would be played at 13 venues in three countries.

Lorgat said that this decision has been taken in the wake of the ICC deciding to deny Pakistan the right to host the World Cup in wake of the March 2009 terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket players.

He told the media that the opening ceremony of the World Cup would be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 18, 2011, while the first match of the tournament would be played in the same city on February 19, 2011.

Lorgat said that Bangladesh would host two quarterfinals, while India and Sri Lanka would host one each. India and Sri Lanka would host a semi final each, while India would host the final of the tournament.

He also said that the working groups of the World Cup Secretariat would henceforth operate from Mumbai till the conclusion of the tournament. (ANI)