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India call off planned Pakistan cricket tour over Mumbai attacks
A disappointed Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to tour next month as replacements for India, who pulled out on Thursday following the last month's Mumbai attacks.
- Agencies
- Published: 14:15 December 18, 2008
- India has cancelled its cricket tour in Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Karachi: A disappointed Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to tour IN January as replacements for India, who pulled out on Thursday following last month's Mumbai attacks.
India called off its planned cricket tour of Pakistan next year in the wake of escalating tensions between the neighbours, Rajeev Shukla, a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said earlier on Thursday.
"Taking into account the recent developments as well as the overall circumstances prevailing at present, it is not considered feasible to ask government permission for the proposed tour," he added
A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said an invitation had already been sent to Sri Lanka to play three tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in January and February.
"It (India's withdrawal) is disappointing for us but we were expecting this," PCB chief operating officer Salim Altaf told reporters in Lahore.
"We still maintain sport should not be mixed with politics. We believe cricket can help improve relations between the two nations.
"Pakistan has gone without test cricket for more then a year now and we are desperate to have international cricket at home. The Sri Lankan board should hopefully accept our invitation."
Former captain Rashid Latif said Pakistan should seriously consider cutting off cricketing ties with neighbours India.
"Our team went to India in 1999 when conditions were worse and there were threats to the players from extremist elements who even dug up pitches at match venues," said Latif.
"The Indians need to show more responsibility."
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