Karachi: Pakistan would prefer to play their 2011 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka if their team is not allowed to play in India due to strained relations between the sub-continental neighbours.
According to sources, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt had indicated it to the ICC President David Morgan in their recent meeting in Dubai.
India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the three joint hosts of the World Cup as ICC and PCB have resolved their dispute over hosting of matches in Pakistan.
Relations between India and Pakistan hit a low after the terror attacks in Mumbai last November which led to suspension of bilateral cricket ties.
"The PCB believes the test case for the World Cup will come when the IPL-III will be held in March-April next year," one source said.
"If the Pakistan government allows its cricketers to play in the IPL then we should not have any problems sending our team to India for the World Cup matches," the source said.
The central organizing committee of the World Cup which no longer includes any Pakistani representative is due to finalize the schedule of matches and venues for the World Cup in November after which the PCB will know where its team has to play in the tournament.