In a big setback to the PCB, South Africa turned down their request to host the Pakistan team for a tri-series this month.

PCB had been trying to arrange the tri-series with Sri Lanka in South Africa to provide their players some exposure after the postponement of the Champions Trophy which was to be held from September 12 in Karachi and Lahore.

"We have got a message from CSA in which they have regretted they can't host the series for number of reasons," Shafqat Naghmi, PCB Chief Operating Officer said.

Naghmi said the South African authorities reasoned that their players had just finished a hectic tour of England, so they were not in physical or mental condition to play a series so soon.

"They said they want to give their players a well deserved rest before their tour of Australia," Naghmi said.

Naghmi said the only other option remaining with Pakistan to arrange some international commitment for their team was to tour Sri Lanka later this month to play three or five one-day internationals.

"We are confident we will able to finalize this tour in next three to four days time with the Sri Lankans," he said.

He also confirmed that no governing body meeting was being held on September 13 but denied this had anything to do with the sports ministry's threat that a GBM without a Chairman would be illegal and unconstitutional.

Nasim Ashraf resigned as PCB Chairman immediately after the exit of former President Pervez Musharrarf last month.

The sports ministry had made it clear that as per the PCB constitution only the Chairman could convene a General Body Meeting.