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ECB prepares for Pakistan no-show

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is making plans to assemble a World XI to contest Monday's Twenty20 international and the following one-day series should Pakistan decide to withdraw.

To simply cancel the games should Inzamam-ul-Haq's men refuse to play would cost the ECB somewhere in the region of £10 million.

As such a number of British-based foreign stars have been approached about their possible participation in any such game and county sides are having their fixtures altered to allow their overseas stars to play.

ECB chief executive David Collier was keen to stress that the plan still remains a contingency one, but the game's authorities are anxious to avoid a repeat of the damage to finances and reputation sustained at the Oval.

"Discussions indicate the England v Pakistan Twenty20 international and the NatWest Series will proceed," he said.

"However, given the current uncertainty concerning the scheduling of the code of conduct hearing and imminence of the Twenty20 international, it is prudent to examine all options to provide spectators with guaranteed play on Monday.

"This has been achieved and while ECB and PCB hope that this contingency plan will not be required, the International XI remains on standby."

Whether it is an all-star select or the tourists who play England in the games depends largely on Pakistan captain ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing which the International Cricket Council is still to fix a date for.

The most notable change to the domestic calendar so far has been the moving of Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan's Pro40 clash forward to Sunday, freeing up New Zealand's Stephen Fleming should he be required.

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