Pakistan cancels Sri Lanka tour

Pakistan have cancelled a one-day cricket series against Sri Lanka in October because of safety fears following the September 11 attacks in the United States.

"The series will not be held. It is cancelled. The decision has been taken due to circumstances beyond the control of both the cricket boards," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Khalid Butt said from Lahore.

Sri Lanka had been approached for the short tour after New Zealand cancelled its September-October visit to Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on New York and Washington.

Sri Lanka had agreed in principle to play three one-day internationals in Karachi and Lahore on October 17, 19 and 21.

But PCB sources said the matches were cancelled because Sri Lanka wanted a guarantee that in the event of retaliation by the U.S. in the region, their players would be flown home safely.

"We are disappointed that this tour has also not gone ahead as per schedule because we would very much like to have some international cricket," said Butt.

"But there is nothing we can do about the prevailing situation. The Sri Lankans were keen to play the matches but we had to call the programme off."

The PCB has said it has suffered revenue losses of $15 million dollars this year due to cancellations by India, for political reasons, and New Zealand.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are due to play each other in a tri-nation tournament in Sharjah from October 26. The third team is Zimbabwe.

"So far the Sharjah tournament is on... We have even started completing the travel documents for our players," said Butt.

Mail Cricket Editor