India have called off next month's cricket tour of Pakistan with the government refusing permission amid simmering tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours over the militant attacks in Mumbai last month.
The BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty says they've received a letter from the government that the tour is not feasible under the prevailing circumstances.
A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official says an official invitation had already been sent to Sri Lanka to play three tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 match to replace the cancelled tour.
The decision to withdraw from the tour, which was due to involve three tests, five one-day games and a Twenty20 international, will raise concerns over the 2011 World Cup to be staged by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Improving ties between the two neighbours suddenly dipped when India blamed Islamist militants based in Pakistan for the attacks in Mumbai which killed at least 179 people.
