Pakistan unlikely to host games in near future

LONDON // Pakistan is unlikely to host international cricket in the immediate future following today's terror attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "It's difficult to see international cricket being played in Pakistan for the foreseeable future," Mr Lorgat told a news conference at Lord's. Mr Lorgat added that the ICC, which is the sport's governing body, would review whether Pakistan could co-host the 2011 World Cup as planned at their next board meeting in April.

"It will be challenging for us to be convinced that Pakistan will be a safe venue," he said. The ICC president David Morgan said World Cup security was paramount and the board "will have to think very carefully about the extent to which Pakistan will be used for that event. "The situation in Pakistan is such that teams should not be expected to go there in the immediate future but things can change very quickly."

Mr Lorgat advised Pakistan to seek to play their matches in neutral venues for now, while Mr Morgan said he hoped the security problems in the country would not be too long-term. "Cricket will and must go on," said Mr Morgan. *Reuters