KARACHI, Aug 26: With the ICC postponing the Champions Trophy until next year, the PCB is now hoping to get India’s support in having a triangular One-day series either in South Africa or Australia next month.

The PCB said it has started talks with the Indian, South African and Australian counterparts to have a triangular series after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday decided to postpone the eight-nation Champions Trophy due to security concerns raised by four of the eight participating teams.

Shafqat Naghmi, a senior official of the Board said that they had opened discussions with South Africa and Australia to host the offshore series.

“We are hoping to play a tri-series in South Africa with India. The Indian board President during the teleconference gave us 50 per cent assurance that this might be possible,” Naghmi said.

“We have also spoken to Australia that if the South African plan does not materialise we can involve them but we first have to see how the Indian board responds because their participation will help boost broadcasters and sponsors interest in such a series,” he added.

The Board official said he was hopeful about having the series since South Africa had been very receptive to playing hosts.

Naghmi said even if India and Australia didn’t agree Pakistan was considering other options like playing a bilateral One-day rubber in South Africa or hosting Sri Lanka at home for five One-day matches.

“The postponement of the Champions Trophy means that all the teams are free next month and I think they can help us out. Obviously the postponement has been a setback for us in many ways and we need to play cricket,” Naghmi said.

He added the board was more worried about giving exposure to the team which had been preparing hard for the Champions Trophy.

Naghmi admitted that obviously Pakistan was disappointed with the outcome of the ICC executive board teleconference but now wanted to move on and make sure that the Champions Trophy was held next year.

He played down reports that Pakistan held Australia, England and New Zealand responsible for forcing the postponement of the tournament.

“We wouldn’t like to blame anyone we are disappointed that despite our security assurances they didn’t listen to us. But the problem is that while we had made elaborate security plan for the tournament every team had their own areas of concerns and it was not possible to cater to all of them,” he said. -— Agencies