Eager to play an unscheduled one-day series against India, Sri Lanka may break its tour to Pakistan in two parts.
"Obviously both the Pakistan and Sri Lankan boards want to make money out of their series and it is understandable the Lankans are keen to not lose the opportunity of playing against India," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source said.
The source further added that talks are on to work out an arrangement under which Sri Lanka would tour Pakistan in the third week of January to play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match.
They would then return for the one-day series against India and complete it by February 18 before coming back to Pakistan to play three Tests.
The present scenario is a result of India cancelling a scheduled Test tour of Pakistan that would have seen them remain in Pakistan from January 4 to around February 21 to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 game.
"But the Indians cancellation of their Pakistan tour has left all three South Asian countries with a window to play in January and February," the source said.
The only issue facing Pakistan is to convince Bangladesh to delay a one-day series between the two countries from March 3 to second week of the month.
"If Sri Lanka comes for the Test series around February 20 it would mean to play three Tests they would require at least 21 days after which Pakistan can go to Bangladesh for the one-day series," the PCB source said.
He said Sri Lanka should finalise the itineraries for their series against Pakistan and India on Monday.
