A couple of weeks back, it was reported that preparations for the 2011 World Cup are 10 months behind schedule.

Now, that in itself is a bit unsettling, especially since this needs to be coordinated between four countries. But it gets more interesting.

Let's add into the mix the fact that only Asian teams have been willing to play in Pakistan, and this trend is unlikely to change (or sadly, get even worse). If Pakistan's involvement as a 2011 host is questioned, expect Pakistan not to send a team to participate, and cause havoc with the organizing.

And then throw in the whole ICL situation. With Miandad and Ranatunga showing some flexibility with regards to ICL players, I can only imagine that the BCCI will be none too thrilled. Beware a BCCI scorned! And isn't Miandad banned from going to India anyway?

Finally, how about the fact that the last two World Cups have been pretty lackluster. You've had a few good matches for sure, but they have generally failed to live up to their billing by miles.

So what does that mean for 2011? Does anyone even care about the ODI World Cup anymore? I certainly have lost respect for it since they pointlessly continue to include so many teams. And then the format for 2011 is horrific - as I have previously ranted about on another blog.

Honestly, if the World Cup was to be canceled, or shifted to Australia (which really should have been the original bid), or moved to India alone (I'm not a fan of joint bids at in any sport), I think it would make little difference to me. The tournament has lost its original glory. Like with any cricket, I will get involved when it comes around. But till then I will probably be mostly indifferent.

I'm looking more forward to the Twenty20 World Cup, not because I am abandoning ODI cricket for T20I, but mainly because they are so much more sensible about the format. Not sure why the ICC can't use its lessons from T20I into ODI, but nothing about the ICC shocks me anymore.

2011 is a long way away, but the path to there seems to be pretty rocky. Let's hope they smooth out.

Australia and Sri Lanka will be playing for the "Warne-Murali Trophy", as it has recently been named. Both the boards have paid their tributes to the greatest spinners ever to play cricket.

Australia has a knack of naming their test series - They play the Windies for the "Frank-Worrell Trophy", India for the "Border-Gavasker Trophy", and England for the "Ashes". I think these names give a sense of belonging to the players, i.e. give them that extra inch of motivation probably to win the games and hence the series. Surely one would want to say "Hey, i won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for my country" rather than saying "We won the pepsi cup".

I think all test playing nations should do this and name their test series to honour some of the great cricketers they have produced.

I just thought of some names - let me know what you think.

1) Imran-Kapil Trophy. Or maybe Miandad-Gavaskar. Why a Pak-Ind test series doesn't have a name already is anyone's guess. Maybe "Imran-Kapil" for the ODI series, and "Miandad-Gavaskar" for the tests.

2) The McGrath-Pollock trophy or rather The Keppler Wessels Trophy - he played for both!

3) The Lara-Sachin Trophy. That would be the ultimate.

4) A Botham-Imran Trophy and Botham-Kapil trophy would be killers!

5) The Sobers-Hanif Trophy.

I'm sure you guys can think of many more.