Speed flies in for emergency talks

Malcolm Speed will have his work cut out as tensions remain high © AFP

Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, landed in London late on Thursday night with Pakistan's one-day series against England starting next week still not certain to go ahead.

Speed is scheduled to hold a series of meetings on Friday with relevant parties, including a media conference at 3.30pm, although at this stage that is not expected to include any of the Pakistan team.

The news that the ECB had started making contingency plans for an alternative International XI should Pakistan refuse to play in Monday's Twenty20 international at Bristol further heightened speculation that Pakistan's players were still considering a boycott of games while the ball-tampering accusations made against Inzamam-ul-Haq remained unresolved.

Shahriyar Khan, the PCB chairman, remained bullish that the one-day series would go ahead "The players feel under pressure and can't really focus on cricket while the Sword of Damocles is hanging over them," he said. "That is why we'd like resolution before the one-day series starts. But if it doesn't happen, the team will still play the matches."

However, reports continued to circulate that the team was not prepared to play until the Code of Conduct hearing had been held. Originally scheduled to take place today, it was postponed indefinitely because of the unavailability of Ranjan Madugalle, their senior match referee.

While it is likely that a date will now be announced by the ICC today, there is almost no chance of it being scheduled before the first ODI at Cardiff next Wednesday. Aside from the logistical issues - and the PCB's own lawyers hired earlier this week have made it clear that they would like more time to prepare their case - no other match referee would be considered acceptable to all parties as they are all either too junior, from one of the three countries involved, or, in one instance, has previous history of incidents with Darrell Hair.

Aside from assembling its stand-by international XI, the ECB is also reported to have approached a number of other boards to see if they could play ODIs were Pakistan to withdraw. South Africa were yesterday floated as the favourites, although media reports last night said New Zealand and West Indies had also been sounded out. Were that to happen, the series would probably be changed - and even shortened to four matches - to accommodate the replacements.

What is sure is that Speed has his work cut out over the next 48 hours. While the ICC, the ECB and PCB all seem happy to wait and hold the Code of Conduct hearing after the conclusion of the one-day series, it all now comes down to the Pakistan team, and specifically Inzamam. If they dig their heels in and refuse to budge, then the rest of the tour remains in serious doubt.