The internal bickering in the South African Cricket may put pay to the Pakistan Cricket Board's hopes of conducting a tri-series in the African nation.

According to the sources in the PCB, the big shots of the South African Union and Cricket South Africa are at loggerheads with each other and their difference of opinion on the proposed series could actually kill the possibility of the having the tournament.

"While the President of the South African Cricket Union has assured the Pakistan board that such a series is possible, the chief executive, Gerald Majola and the players think otherwise," one source said.

"Majola is also aware that the players are not keen at all on playing either a tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka or even a bilateral series with Pakistan at home as they want a well deserved break from the game. Majola has, in fact, indicated that it would be better to consider scheduling a Twenty20 event," the source added.

There had also been a suggestion to move the series to Abu Dhabi if the SA Cricket Union was unable to reach an agreement with its associations for hosting the matches.

Another major hindrance was the lack of interest by sponsors and broadcasters.

"ESPN and Star sports are not interested as they have already stuck up around $100 million with the ICC for the Champions Trophy which was postponed. The Pakistan board has approached a Dubai based channel which has asked for some time to take the final decision," the source said.

"The same channel also has broadcasting rights for the Pakistan and West Indies series in November in Abu Dhabi and has been asked to consider buying rights for this off-shore series as well," the source added.

The International Cricket Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board is meeting today in Karachi to discuss the proposed series.

"The meeting will also probably take a decision on the suggestion by Majola to have a Twenty20 tournament instead. But the main agenda would be the committee member's unhappiness over Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi starting negotiations with the SA union without their approval," the source said.