KARACHI, Jan 5: India has expressed its inability to host this year’s ICC Knock-Out tournament scheduled for September, a top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said.

“I have not been officially informed. But I have been told that India has opted out,” he said.

India were given a Feb 28 deadline by the ICC to confirm if it was willing to stage the competition.

“The Indian government has refused to give tax relaxations to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which means that there will be almost no earnings from the competition which is held to generate funds for ICC’s development programme.”

Australia, Sri Lanka and Sharjah were the back-up venues if India pulled out.

But the PCB Saturday advised the ICC to organize the competition in Moroccan city of Tangiers.

“The ICC wants to globalize and promote. That’s been the objective behind initiating the Knock-Out tournament. I think the ICC would be able to achieve both its objectives,” he said.

The PCB official said Pakistan would play wherever the competition was held. “But we feel that it was add to the attraction of the tournament if it is held in Morocco. The spectators turn-out would be tremendous and more sponsors who would otherwise invest in other sports would be attracted.

“The ground would be ready for use by July and we think that the ICC should send its team to inspect the facilities before deciding the venue,” he said.