UAE risks losing ICC World Cup Qualifier

South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs(R) plays a defensive shot during the fifth Natwest one day International between England and South Africa at The Swalec Stadium in Wales on Sept. 3. (Getty Images)

The UAE risks missing out on hosting next year's ICC World Cup Qualifier because some of the pitches will not be ready due to problems importing soils.

The event is scheduled to be held in April, but Dubai Sports City (DSC), one of the main venues, will not be completed in time, UAE daily The National reported on Sunday.

DSC has an ambitious plan to import soils from cricketing nations around the world and replicate their different pitch conditions on its cricket fields, but has had problems securing permits to import the soils.

The delay could mean the 12-team tournament, which decides the final four places for the World Cup in 2011, will be moved to another country, causing embarrassment to both the UAE and the ICC.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has asked the ICC to push the event back until the end of 2009, but world cricket's governing body has yet to make a decision, according to The National.

The ICC said it will decide “over the coming weeks” if the UAE will host the tournament, according to the newspaper.

If the UAE loses out it is expected Bangladesh will host the tournament.

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