Aussies, Kiwis in joint W/Cup 2011 bid

Officials released a statement detailing their proposal to host the tournament in opposition to a united South Asian bid from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Both bids will be presented to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai this week with the winner expected to be announced in July.

"We know that this is a highly competitive bidding process," Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland said.

"However, united by a common goal, we hope the ICC will award the 2011 ICC World Cup to Australia and New Zealand."

Australia and New Zealand said they had been involved in high-level talks and planning with their federal governments and had agreed that matches would be shared equally, although no decision had been made on where the final would be played.

Martin Snedden, chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said he was confident they had a world class bid.

"Both countries have the capability to host an outstanding event. We have fantastic venues, solid infrastructure and professional staff who are experienced in event management at the highest level," he said.

Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the 1992 World Cup and were next in line to stage the 2011 event after Asia (1996), England (1999), South Africa (2003) and the West Indies (2007) each took their turn staging the tournament.

However, the ICC announced late last year that they were scrapping their rotational policy for an event-by-event bidding process after the sub-continent demanded they should be given every third World Cup because of the money they can generate for the game.