Bangladesh wants to stage 2011 World Cup opener

DHAKA, May 4 (Reuters) Bangladesh wants to stage the opening game of the 2011 World Cup.

Bangladesh will host six matches in the tournament. India will have 22, Pakistan 14 and Sri Lanka nine, Ali Asghar, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, told a news conference today.

''We will ask for the opening game in Dhaka and hope our plea will be honoured by the International Cricket Council (ICC),'' Asghar said.

''Our junior cricketers are doing very well now, and by the time the World Cup arrives they will take up the challenge for the national squad and we can hope for a very good result.'' REUTERS AY VV1845