London: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday said it was putting an International XI on standby to play a Twenty20 match on Monday and hoping to rope in another Test playing nation to play the following five-match ODI series which it was scheduled against Pakistan.
The ECB said it was forced to make the contingency plan in the view of "uncertainty" over the remainder of Pakistan's visit as fallout of the controversial fourth Test at the Oval last week.
"We are pleased that discussions strongly indicate the England vs Pakistan Twenty20 international and the subsequent NatWest Series will proceed as planned. However given the current uncertainty concerning the scheduling of the Code of Conduct hearing and imminence of the Twenty20 it is prudent to examine all options to provide spectators with guaranteed play on Monday," ECB Chief Executive David Collier said.
"This has been achieved and while ECB and PCB hope that this contingency plan will not be required, the International XI remains on standby. ECB can also confirm that it has been in discussion with ICC and other full member boards to provide a further contingency plan for the NatWest Series. These discussions are well advanced, but it is hoped that the Pakistan team will be able to fulfil its commitments."
Pakistani players have threatened to pull out of the Twenty20 game and the five-match ODI series that followed if their captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was punished for ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute following the team's forfeiture of the Oval Test.
Inzamam was set to face an ICC hearing on the charges brought against him on Friday, but it was postponed as ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, appointed to adjudicate on the matter, was not available.
With the date of hearing yet to finalised, it was unclear whether Pakistan would continue with the tour.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan, however, had insisted that his team play and win the battle on the field.
South Africa, who withdrew from a tri-series in Sri Lanka last week, have expressed their keenness to step in for Pakistan.
The International XI to play the Twenty20 game would be drawn from the overseas cricketers currently playing in the English circuit.
A Pro-40 match between Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan was being brought forward by one day to Sunday, to ensure more players including New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming were available for the International XI.
Meanwhile, ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed was expected to arrive here later today to try and help the lawyers of the ICC and the PCB find a date for Inzamam's hearing.
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