Dambulla, August 1:

Sri Lanka is ready and “keen” to join hands with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to host the 2011 World Cup because “then we will be a force to reckon with”, a top cricket official has said. Tryphon R Mirando, secretary of the interim committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket was reacting to a suggestion of ICC president Ehsan Mani that the four sub-continental countries could bid for 2011 World Cup. “That’s true. This discussion took place long, long ago when we wanted to do it together because I can assure one thing: our relationship with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh has always been strong and I assure you it will continue to be strong,” Mirando said. Never before in the history of the game have four countries hosted a World Cup together. “Then we will be a force to reckon with as well, because we have the numbers, we have the talent and, why not? We are neighbours and we should get on and we are getting on,” he said. Mirando also supported ACC president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s request to ICC to allot a World Cup to the subcontinent every 12 years, or every third tournament, on the basis of its strength. New Zealand and Australia are also planning to bid for the same edition of the World Cup, but Mirando said it would not be easy to beat the subcontinent’s joint bid.