The International Cricket Council has insisted that it will not force member countries to tour Pakistan.
Governing body won't pressurise teams to tour Pakistan
The International Cricket Council insists it will not force member countries to tour Pakistan.
Pakistan have not played a Test match in 2008 with Australia and New Zealand cancelling scheduled tours, while the Champions Trophy was also postponed.
India are scheduled to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in a tour starting in January, but that series is in doubt due to the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries following the Mumbai terrorist attack.
Some former Pakistan players have accused member countries of employing double standards, especially after England decided to return to India for the Test series.
England were one of the countries that refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September due to safety concerns.
Respect
"The context is very, very different," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
"When talking about the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the ICC has gone to great lengths to ensure safety and security.
"But that was a multinational event. Members took a different view and we needed to respect such decisions.
"As for England coming to India, it is an individual decision. You cannot compare the two."
Lorgat insists the ICC could not force teams to tour Pakistan if the safety and security of its players were in doubt.
"We will continue to impress upon member countries to take the right decisions to keep the game of cricket going provided that safety and security measures allow that to happen," he said.
"More than that we cannot force member countries to play bilateral series.
"We will try and encourage and play an aiding role.
Disappointing
"We cannot do something on which we have no influence. For example, if a government says that you cannot go I respect that. It is a government decision and nothing that ICC could do."
England were scheduled to play seven one-dayers in India, but they abandoned the series after five matches after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
England, however, returned for the two-Test series, but they have been accused of returning solely for financial reasons.
Lorgat rubbished those allegations, stating that the decision to return was soley down to the England players and coaches.
"From a personal level on this emotive issue, it is disappointing to suggest England were paid to return," he said.
"If any member was to take a decision on safety and security based on financial reasons, it is simply not proper.
"People will not play with other peoples' life. I think they are very responsible when they assess the situation.
"They looked to do what is right for them."
