Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan believes the South Asian block should have swapped the 2011 World Cup with Australia to avoid security fears in the region, especially in his homeland.

The 2011 World Cup was due to be hosted in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but the International Cricket Council (ICC) last week decided to strip Pakistan of its share of matches because of an "uncertain security situation."

Khan said the situation in the region demanded a swap of World Cups with Australia and New Zealand who will co-host in 2015.

"Pakistan should have gathered support of its Asian partners and swapped the 2011 World Cup with Australia because the situation could improve by 2015 and at that time South Asia should host the World Cup," Khan said.

Khan, who captained his country to their only World Cup title in 1992, said Pakistan failed to provide proper security to the Sri Lanka team and is now paying the price.

"Had we provided the presidential level of security we promised to the Sri Lankan team we would definitely have been hosting more cricket, but that event hit us badly," said Khan of terrorists’ attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.