HONG KONG. Feb 1: Sri Lanka's position as co-host of this month's cricket World Cup hung in the balance to-voiced fearsfor their safety after Wednesday's bomb blast which ripped through Colombo, reports Reuter.

Australia — one of the favourites to win the competition hosted jointly by Sri Lanka. Pakistan ana India — would decide next week whether to withdraw from the Sri Lankan leg of the Cup. the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said today.

Sri Lanka will hosj four teams — Australia. Zimbabwe. West Indies and Kenya — In the month-long tournament which starts on February 14 with games in Colombo and Kandy, in Central Sri Lanka.

However. Zimbabwe said the massive explosion, which killed 80 people and injured 1.400 on Wednesday, would not affect their participation in the Cup.

Several Australian players today expressed their concerns. one saying it was likely that Australia would now for felt Its February 17 match in Colombo unless other countries also refused to go there and the tournament's schedule was changed.

1 think that's probably the likely scenario.” opening batsman Michael Slater told Australian television.

Pace bowler Craig McDermott. who has recently received a death threat from Sri Lanka, told Australian television. "Maybe ft puts all games in Colombo in jeopardy. not just Australian games.”

ACB chief executive Gra-

ham Halbish said security implications following the bombing would be discussed at its scheduled board meeting next Monday and Tues-day.

Halbish said the ACB was trying to gather as much information as possible from all available sources, including the Australian government. Sri Lankan authorities and the World Cup organisers.

"We'll provide a full briefing to our players at the training camp in Brisbane." Halbish said, referring to the three-day camp starting next Tuesday. "Our standard policy is that we will continue to monitor the security information."

Zimbabwe, who are currently touring New Zealand, were not concerned by the blast in Central Colombo, manager Denis Streak said.

“We've come from a war-torn country.” Streak said. gfully security will be

we don t see It as a ma sblem. We're not going too concerned about it.

You could get run over by a bus in the street — ft's just one of those things."

Zimbabwe meet Sri Lanka in Colombo on February 21

Sri Lanka team manager Duleep Mendis said his team, who have just completed an Australian tour, were notified of the blast during s farewell dinner in Sydney on Wertnewtay

It's very sad... I know the World Cup will go on and the matches are in Colombo — but it's up to them (the players} to decide." he told Australian television.

Australian players last week met to discuss concerns for their safety during the one-day tournament after the controversial home Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan over the

past three months.

Wicketkeeper Ian Healy said in Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper that the blast had put "the Sri Lankan leg of the World Cup in Jeopardy, that's for sure".

The bomb blast Is not real surprise to me. It is why we were concerned in the first place." Healy was quoted

executive David Richards told The Times in London today that he could not guarantee a player's safety and that security arrangements would be discussed again.

Tt is obviously a volatile environment and some unpleasant things are happening. but I believe the committee is giving it as much professional attention as is needed," he said. "No one can give anyone absolute guaran-

In recent years, bomb blasts in Sri Lanka have results in frightened players and international teams cutting short their tours.

In November 1992. five New Zealand players were allowed to return home on "compassionate grounds' after four people were killed Xa suicide bomber outside

team s Colombo hotel.

In April 1987. a bomb explosion near the New Zealand team's hotel killed more than 100 people resulting in the tour being abandoned after just one match.

"We're just monitoring what s happening and will act accordingly if any Instructions come through from the ICC or the World Cup organising committee." New Zealand cricket general manager Tim Murdoch told Reuters today.

New Zealand has no games scheduled in Sri Lanka.