Pakistan faced a bleak cricketing future Wednesday with New Zealand cancelling a planned tour and senior officials from other countries wary of ever sending teams again.
The most immediate repercussion in the aftermath of Tuesday's ambush by militants on the Sri Lankan team bus was the New Zealand Cricket Board announcing that their tour in November was off.
"We're not going and I think that's pretty clear. I don't think any international team will be going to Pakistan in the foreseeable future," New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan told Radio New Zealand.
"Now we've seen that cricket can be a target, and I think it creates a whole new set of issues and raises the security issue to a whole new level."
Eight people died and seven Sri Lankan players were among 19 wounded in the attack by an unknown group armed with grenades and guns as the team made their way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second Test.
The outrage could spell the end for international cricket in Pakistan, which has struggled to convince teams to tour in recent years because of security concerns.
Australian foreign minister said Wednesday that world cricket chiefs would have to think very carefully before allowing any future tours.
"This attack will send shockwaves through the cricket community, will send shockwaves through the ICC (International Cricket Council)," Stephen Smith said.
"The ICC, Cricket Australia and other cricketing authorities will need to bear and weigh these events very heavily in mind when they come to contemplate tours to Pakistan," he added, calling the attack "atrocious."
His comments follow the ICC casting doubt on Pakistan's hopes of remaining a co-host of the 2011 World Cup, due to be held in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"It's difficult to ... see international cricket being played in Pakistan for the foreseeable future," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat warned.
Even before Tuesday's events, Pakistan had been dropped as host nation of the Champions Trophy in 2009 because of security worries.
The PCB insists the deadly attack was beyond their control, but they know the consequences will be dire.
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