 Australia have taken the trophy at the last two World Cups |
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have formally agreed a joint bid to host the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Officials from all four countries met in Delhi on Friday and decided to submit an interim bid before the 28 February deadline.
They are not yet in a position to draw up a detailed proposal because there are financial issues to resolve.
But all four national boards are hopeful the International Cricket Council will agree to wait.
The World Cup was last staged in the region in 1996 when India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were co-hosts.
Bangladesh did not join the list of ICC full member countries until 2000.
Australia and New Zealand are also expected to bid for the 2011 tournament and it is their turn under normal rotation.
But Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan has previously claimed they will step aside in favour of an Asian bid.
The four boards will meet again on 12 March to work out full details of the bid, including proposed match venues.
But Khan said the financial conditions set out by the ICC were not "totally satisfactory".
The governing body plans plan to give each host country $10m (�5.76m) but the the quartet believe the total sum should be divided up depending on how many games they stage.
MMIX
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