NEW DELHI, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An Indian cricket tour of Pakistan set for early 2009 was called off amid rising tension between the neighbors following the November Mumbai terror attacks.
The decision by the Indian cricket board had been anticipated in the current political environment. India had been scheduled to play three test matches, five one-day internationals and one 20-over match, against Pakistan from Jan. 6 through Feb. 19.
A letter from the Indian cricket board to its counterpart in Pakistan said it was acting on a government communication that "in the present circumstances it is not feasible to tour Pakistan."
Ejaz Butt, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, expressed disappointment but said he understood the decision was taken at government level, the Press Trust of India reported.
Even prior to the Mumbai attacks, there had been concerns about security in Pakistan.
India earlier denied permission for a junior field hockey team to tour Pakistan, CNN reported.
On the cricket tour, top former Indian cricket players including ex-captains Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly had urged against the Pakistan tour, the report said.
The CNN report said two other cricket tours to Pakistan have already been called off due to security concerns. They are the Australian tour and the International Cricket Council's Champions Trophy one-day tournament in September.
The BBC reported the Pakistan cricket board has invited Sri Lanka to play in place of India.
