Pakistan cricket officials received yet another setback on Friday when their South African counterparts finally rejected a proposal to host a tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month.
A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told IANS that Cricket South Africa (CSA) declined the proposal saying that their players needed a break after a marathon away series against England.
The PCB had proposed to CSA to host a triangular tournament in the second half of September. Pakistan is desperate for some international cricket after the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the Champions Trophy which was supposed to take place in the country from Sept 12-28. The eight-nation tournament was switched to next October because of security concerns expressed by five competing nations.
Pakistan was banking on South Africans to host the series that would have given their cricketers an opportunity to play some top-class international cricket. The Board would also have earned a profit of over one million dollars from the series.
But following South Africa's negative response, PCB officials are now working on other options that includes having a tri-series in Abu Dhabi or on home soil.
{{/usCountry}}But following South Africa's negative response, PCB officials are now working on other options that includes having a tri-series in Abu Dhabi or on home soil.
{{/usCountry}}A PCB spokesman said that a decision on the issue will be made next week. Meanwhile, South Africa's coach Micky Arthur welcomed CSA's decision against hosting the proposed tri-series.
"A lot of the senior players have played a helluva lot of cricket this year, it's taken its toll and they need a break," Arthur told reporters in Johannesburg.
"I'm sure the tri-series is not going to take place and, in retrospect, it's a relief the Champions Trophy was called off because we would have been back on a plane flying out on Sunday," he said.