Kenya have been stripped of the rights to host the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, a decision one leading official leading Associate chairman described as a "sad, sad day".

Another accused the ICC of engineering "little more than a stitch up".

An ICC report concluded that with only eight months to go before the event, it was "unrealistic" to expect Kenya to be ready to host the tournament.

It was agreed that New Zealand would be the new host, subject to the agreement of satisfactory terms.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat described the outcome as "a difficult conclusion to have reached and a regrettable one".

While Cricket Kenya has yet to respond, other Associates have privately told Cricinfo that the decision effectively kills the chances of a non-major country hosting such an event again.

Kenya, who have spent more than US$150,000 on ground improvements, now face a massive loss, and the ICC was not able to provide anything other than assurances it would look into the situation by way of solace.

In theory, the U-19 World Cup is an event which is used to boost the profile of the game outside the Full Member countries.