August 26, 2008	Tuesday	Sha’aban 23, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Aug 25: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it has contingency plans for its team to play international cricket next month after the Champions Trophy was postponed for one year due to security fears held by four leading teams.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said on Monday that Pakistan might tour South Africa next month to play a triangular series — also featuring India — while Sri Lanka has also expressed its willingness to play a One-day International series.

“We have a couple of plans and we hope that our players would be playing some international cricket next month,” Naghmi said.

Pakistan was forced to play against weaker teams — Bangladesh and Zimbabwe — at home earlier this year after Australia postponed its scheduled tour of Pakistan due to perceived security problems.

Former Test captains Intikhab Alam and wicket-keeper Moin Khan said the postponement of the Champions Trophy was the right decision.

“At least we did not lose the hosting right and, in the present circumstances, I think it was the right decision to delay the tournament for one year,” Moin said.

Intikhab said nobody in the world could give guarantees about possible suicide bombings — one of the reasons for the postponement of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

“It’s (Champions Trophy) the second mega event after the World Cup and it was a wise decision to postpone it,” Intikhab said. “Hopefully the security situation improves in Pakistan when it is staged next year.”

—AP