Sealing Pakistan's failing record as an unsafe destination to host international sports events, International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided not to hold 2011 World Cup matches in any of the venues in that South Asian country owing to security concerns.
Speaking after the first day of an ICC executive board meeting in Dubai Friday, its president David Morgan said: "It is a regrettable decision but our priority is to deliver a safe, secure, successful event."
He added that Pakistan was unlikely to resume hosting any international cricket at all until 2011.
Ijaz Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, expressed regret over the decision, adding, "Nobody wants to play in Pakistan following the attacks in Lahore."
Eight people, mostly policemen, were killed in a commando-style terrorist attack on a convoy carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to the Gaddafi stadium in Pakistan's eastern city on March 3.
Seven players were also injured when the gunmen sprayed the Sri Lankan team's bus with bullets, resulting in the cancellation of the test series.
Four neighboring nations in the Indian sub-continent, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan, were scheduled to jointly host the next edition of the biggest cricket tournament in the world.
The 16 matches allotted to Pakistan will now be shared among the other three countries.
In addition to the already tainted image of Pakistan as a failing state, Friday's development deals a severe blow to Pakistan cricket.
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