Brigadier Munawar Ahmed Rana, director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), warned that the PCB stood to lose "millions" if Australia called off its three-Test tour in October. Renewed political tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir have added to the unease many cricket teams felt about visiting both countries, and Pakistan in particular, that was created in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Speaking at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting at Lord's, Rana argued that Pakistan had always carried on touring regardless of political situations elsewhere. "Pakistan is on record as visiting every place it was due to tour. We came to England when the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was on top and we were twice asked to move hotels which we didn't do.

"And we toured India in 1999 when our players were under direct personal threat and we also went to Sri Lanka during the last World Cup, when Australia wouldn't, to show solidarity. We are also willing to go to Zimbabwe (Pakistan are due there in October and November of this year).

"World cricket has to make a decision about whether it is going to let these events get under its skin."

Not wishing to appear too confrontational, Rana softened his rhetoric to praise the attitude of James Sutherland, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive, for "staying his hand" when the two met to discuss the issue during the meeting at Lord's. Although no decision had been reached, he said that "commonsense says we must have one by the middle of July at the latest".

Sutherland said that he was happy to continue his efforts to reach an satisfactory agreement. "I am hoping to have more talks today. At the end of the day it is not really our decision. There are a lot of options and the PCB is working through those. They would make a decision in consultation with us. My priority is that the matches are played as scheduled."

But he added that the final decision was not with the ACB but that it came down to "the advice we get from the experts."

Malcolm Speed, ICC chief executive, made it quite clear that he believed that the tour to Pakistan was still going ahead. "There have been some discussions between ACB and PCB in the event the tour is cancelled. The other options are to play in Australia, in a neutral venue of another full member country or in international cricket centres such as Morocco or Sharjah."

Delegates had been asked to back a compensation scheme out forward by the ICC's finance committee designed to assist countries such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe adversely affected by international political events. "It's not as simple as `compensation'" said Malcolm Gray, the ICC's president. "What do you 'compensate' for. Is it for future earnings or lost earnings? Is it for losses of cashflow? We decided that the path ICC should go down is that it does all it can to ensure that cricket is still being played in those countries."

So after four days of discussion at Lord's it appears that Pakistan are no nearer to resolving the Australian tour or their parlous financial situation than they were at the start.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd