India pulls out of Pakistan tour

India's tour of Pakistan next month has been scrapped due to hostile relations between the two countries.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources said their government have refused to allow the team to tour.

A BCCI spokesman said: "We have been told that the government does not want the team to go to Pakistan because the `atmosphere was not conducive to play cricket'.

"The announcement to this effect will be made as soon as the sports ministry officially informs us. But yes, the tour is off.''

Pakistani cricket authorities had set today as the deadline for the BCCI to confirm or cancel the tour.

India had been scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals on what would have been their first Test tour of Pakistan for 11 years.

Official contact between the two countries ceased in May last year when Indian troops began a 10-week battle against Pakistan-backed forces along their disputed border in Kashmir.