Islamaabd, Sept 22: The Pakistan Cricket Board is exploring the possibility of sending its chief executive, Ramiz Raja to South Africa by tomorrow to convince the United Cricket Board of South Africa and its players' association to review their decision to cancel their tour of Pakistan. The possibility of sending Raja was discussed yesterday between PCB chairman Lt General Tauqir Zia and Raja but no final decision has been taken.
"The feeling is that Rameez would stand a very good chance of having fruitful negotiations with the South Africans across the table rather than on telephone or through video conferencing," PCB officials were quoted as saying by 'The News'.
They said PCB has not given up hope despite the cancellation of tour by UCB. "We have not given up hope as yet. We have sent a rescheduled itinerary to the South Africans reducing the test series to two matches and three one-dayers. We have also offered them a shift of venues. But so far we are waiting for a response from them," they said.
"We are giving them the option of playing just two tests now so that they can make the tour even after a week's delay."
Board sources also said they were expecting a response from the South Africans on the revised itinerary and tour in the next 48 hours.
Bureau Report