Australia call off tour of Pakistan after Lahore bomb kills 15 people

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Cricket Australia announced the decision following discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council.

No date has yet been set for a rearranged tour to take place.

Australia were set to arrive in Pakistan on March 29 for a shortened tour which was scheduled to include two Test matches and five one-day internationals in April.

"We are very sorry that the tour could not take place at this time," said Creagh O'Connor, chairman of Cricket Australia.

"This was a difficult decision based on independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan at the moment.

"We wish no loss to the Pakistan Cricket Board and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future."

The decision comes at a time when the Australian Government has been warning against non-essential travel to Pakistan, the country having been plagued by tensions since the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December.

O'Connor and PCB chairman Dr Nashim Ashraf will meet in Dubai next weekend to discuss a possible future date with Pakistan against moving the tour to a neutral venue.

That happened in 2002 when three Tests between the countries were played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates due to security fears. Australia have not actually toured Pakistan since 1998.

But due to the congested international cricket calendar and the problems in Pakistan, the tour is unlikely to take place in the near future.

"We are obviously very disappointed at this decision," said PCB chairman Dr Ashraf.

"I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour of Australia to Pakistan can materialise at the earliest opportunity."