26 Dec 2008

Pakistan risks becoming pariah of cricket world

12:29 pm on 26 December 2008

Pakistan risks being the pariah of the cricket world unless it addresses security fears that have prompted foreign teams to cancel tours to the country, says the former chief of the sport's governing body the ICC.

The comments from former president Ehsan Mani come after India announced it would not tour Pakistan next month amid tense relations between the neighbours in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan has been a virtual no-go zone for foreign teams since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and Mani, says Pakistan's become too reliant on India for cricket events and needs to improve its ties with other top Test nations.

The cancellation of India's tour is the third major cricket event called off there this year, after Australia refused to tour in March and the ICC postponed the Champions Trophy scheduled for August until next year.

Pakistan's convinced Sri Lanka to replace India for a series, but the ICC is sending a security team to Pakistan to ensure the safety of match officials.