The board tried its hardest to fight for host status, but it didn’t have support from any other country. A PCB official is quoted saying "After the attacks of March 3 (attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore), it is impossible to expect anyone to come here. We fought at the meeting to retain the tournament but the simple truth is that players are just not willing to travel here right now."

Though officially the PCB has maintained a stoic silence, it has been deciding with the ICC the best way to proceed with either of the two options that have been considered.

One option is playing cricket in a neutral venue, like Dubai; where the current Australia Pakistan series is underway. In support of this the PCB tried pushing for permission to co-host the 2011 World Cup in Dubai. But the ICC does not consider this as an option. Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the ICC is quoted telling Cricinfo:  "no, that is not an option... The board has made a decision. But I think this is a proposal (the PCB) is considering making. That is flowing from discussions I had today [Thursday] and yesterday with various people, including Pakistan ministry of sport."

But even the PCB has identified a few cons of using Dubai as a neutral host. Although the distance is manageable, the costs are turning out to be quite an issue. A senior board official of the PCB told Cricinfo: "Dubai is a very expensive option... Security costs, hotel costs and just hosting a cricket match here is very expensive so that aspect has to be looked at."

Another option under consideration is to work out arrangements with other countries to host its matches. New Zealand were to travel to Pakistan later in the year, but the matches could now be held in New Zealand itself with Pakistan as the designated hosts. But looking at the pros and cons of such a decision, and considering issues of Television rights and suchlike, a neutral venue seems to be a much better option.

Meanwhile the ICC insists that it does not wish to isolate a good cricketing nation. "I am worried that there was any message suggesting we were looking to distance ourselves from Pakistan," Lorgat said. "That is not true. In fact, it is quite the opposite. We are very keen for Pakistan to continue playing international cricket.

"There is a great reluctance from all players to go to Pakistan right now. Let's allow the situation to cool down, and make sure Pakistan continues to play international cricket in the interim. It is impossible to put a timeframe on this. It could be next month, it could be six months, it could be the end of this year."

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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