Security fears force Windies to cancel Pakistan T20 tour

Pakistan's hopes of reviving international cricket at home suffered a major blow after recently-crowned World Twenty20 champions West Indies refused to play two T20 internationals in the troubled country.

Pakistan were hoping that the T20 leg of the West Indies' tour could be played in Lahore, while the five-match ODI series and two Tests to be played in the neutral grounds of the United Arab Emirates in September and October this year.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan confirmed that the full series will now be played in the UAE as the West Indies Cricket Board has refused to play in Pakistan citing security reasons, Sport24 reported.

The PCB has been forced to host all their home series in the UAE following a terrorist attack on a Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009 that left six police officers and a driver dead, and several players and officials injured.

Last year, Pakistan had hosted Zimbabwe in its first home international series in six years.

The West Indies' refusal to play in Pakistan came in the wake of the appalling suicide bombing of a public park in Lahore, which claimed the lives of 73 people last month.