Pakistan-Afghanistan Series Called Off in Wake of Lahore Blast

Pakistan calls off cricket series against Afghanistan as security becomes an issue following the Lahore attack.

The Pakistan cricket team at Eden Gardens during their WT20 match against India (Photo: AP)

Pakistan has called off its plans to host the Afghanistan cricket team in April following last Sunday’s suicide bombing in the eastern city of Lahore, which saw 70 people killed.

Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson, Amjad Bhatti, told The Associated Press today that it was in negotiations with officials of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

The the tour is now called off due to overall security situation in the country.

Amjad Bhatti, Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson

Azizullah Fazly, the executive director of the Afghan cricket team, said Pakistan had been asked to guarantee the teams’ safety for the tour. He described the response of the Pakistan cricket authorities as “unacceptable”.

We gave them another option, to hold the championship in Dubai, which would be good because many people from both countries live there. But we haven’t yet received any response.

Azizullah Fazly, Director, Afghanistan Cricket Team 

No major foreign Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in 2009. Last year, Zimbabwe played a short one-day series in Lahore.