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Pakistan cancel series against Afghanistan amid security concern

Azhar Ali (left) captained Pakistan in their last 'home' ODI series against England in the UAE.
Image: Azhar Ali (left) captained Pakistan in their last 'home' ODI series against England in the UAE.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has called off its plans to host the Afghanistan team in April following last Sunday's suicide bombing.

The decision was made after the terrorist attack in the eastern city of Lahore which killed 70 people.

Following negotiations with officials of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, PCB spokesman Amjad Bhatti said: "The tour is called off due to overall security situation in the country."

The PCB was planning to host Afghanistan for three one-day internationals in Lahore and Karachi and also a four-day game against Pakistan A.

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Plans are ongoing to play the tour in another country with the most likely venue Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Azizullah Fazly, executive director of the Afghan cricket team, said: "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 have yet to receive any response."

No major foreign Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in 2009. Pakistan has since played their home Test matches in the UAE.

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