The International Cricket Council (ICC [Images]) rejected Pakistan's proposal of third country umpires in one-day internationals, a top Pakistan Cricket Board official said from London [Images].

"ICC's Cricket Committee Management felt that if third country umpires were introduced in one-dayers, it would deny the grooming of young umpires. In addition to this, cost element was also one of the factors," said Saleem Altaf, PCB's Director Operations, who attended the ICC executive meetings held between June 24 and 28 at Lord's.

Pakistan had urged the introduction of third country umpires in one-day internationals while complaining of poor umpiring by home umpires in the VB tri-series in Australia and then in India.

"We are not really disappointed. It's part of the game. But we will again try to include this issue in the agenda of next meeting," Altaf, a former Test seamer and ex-chairman of selection committee, said.

Altaf said Pakistan is keen to take the lead in the introduction of third country umpires in all forms of the game.

"Pakistan floated the idea of third country umpires in Tests and later convinced the world its necessity and implications. Likewise, we strongly believe the importance of third country umpires in one-dayers and would keep pushing for it," Altaf said.

He said the draws of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, to be staged in the West Indies [Images], will be announced in Port-of-Spain on July 19.

All the teams know exactly where they would be located but the dates and venues of the preliminaries, the super eight stage, semi-finals and final are still to be announced, he added.

On the bidding for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, he expressed unawareness if any progress had been made.

"As far as I know, there was no discussion in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in which basically the budgets are approved.

"If the two chairmen [Shaharyar Khan and Ranbir Singh Mahendra) have separately discussed this issue, I have no idea," the PCB official explained.

Altaf said all the Test playing nations have been presented the Future Tours Plan (FTP) for the next five years.

He said the respective countries will study the proposal and will submit their suggestions and opinions before it is ready for implementation.