According to South African newspapers his personal assistant George Hector said, "He (Sonn) is in the same condition. He is still serious, stable but unchanged." Sonn had fallen ill after suffering from complications after being admitted to a clinic to undergo a minor colon operation.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said that with the outlook on Sonn not bright, the ICC was now working out who would replace him immediately in case of any emergency.

"Apparently there is no mention in the ICC constitution what will happen in such a situation and there is also no elected Vice-president in the world body at the moment who can automatically take over this post in emergency," said one source.

The interesting thing is that the ICC members have even deferred a decision on the next President of the ICC who will be elected next year.