Although the ICC has insisted it was committed to staging the tournament in Pakistan in September but skeptics point out that Saturday’s bomb blast in Islamabad, where foreigners were targeted at an Italian restaurant, has added to the problems of the PCB.

“This incident now allows other member countries to point out that Australia were justified in postponing their tour,” a source said. They also admitted that Chairman Nasim Ashraf will have to do some lobbying to ensure that the tournament can be held without any security fears. The ICC has kept Sri Lanka as the reserve venue.