The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approached Qatar to host its own franchise-based T20 league in Doha, in February 2016, according to a report on the ESPNCricinfo website.

The PCB had initially announced that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be hosted in UAE, Pakistan's virtual home since 2009.

After failure of negotiations with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) a formal proposal is being sent to the Qatar Olympics Association, asking to upgrade the only cricket stadium in the country, the report said adding that, it is likely the PCB will wait another month before going forward with Doha as the alternative venue for the inaugural version of the league.

The franchise-based PSL, based on the same format as the Indian Premier League, was first set to begin in 2008-09 but was shelved on several occasions hitherto on the account of prevailing security situation in Pakistan.

Read: Shaharyar takes a somersault to throw weight behind PSL

The UAE was considered as the second option after Pakistan plunged into isolation in the aftermath of the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The ECB had refused to lease out the three stadiums in the UAE to Pakistan, saying that the Masters Champions League (MCL) had already locked a deal, booking stadiums for the February window.

The Masters Champions League is a tournament for retired international cricketers which was unveiled at the Burj Al Arab on June this year. MCL has signed Wasim Akram, Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist and Jacques Kallis as icon players for the tournament.

The ESPNCricinfo report adds that Doha is also seen by Pakistan as a potential venue to host their Under-19, Women and A games on a long-term basis.