'India trying to isolate Pakistan cricket'

Anticipating support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Pakistan Cricket Board officials are surprised that Sharad Pawar, the vice president of the International Cricket Council, has asked the member boards to meet shortly and discuss the staging of 2011 World Cup matches following the terror attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore.

"We were expecting some words of support from the Indian Board even though we know that realistically speaking World Cup matches are unlikely to be held in Pakistan following the unfortunate incident," one PCB official said.

He also said conditions could change dramatically in Pakistan as the World Cup is still some two years away.

"We would think that since the tournament is to be hosted in four countries in the same continent, the ICC and its member boards can wait for another six months to see how the security situation improves in Pakistan before taking a final decision on the matches in Pakistan," the official stated.

The ICC has virtually ruled out chances of Pakistan hosting its share of 14 matches of the World Cup in 2011 after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Senior PCB officials are surprised that BCCI president Shashank Manohar has come out with an offer by India to host more World Cup matches if Pakistan is not given its share of matches as joint host of the World Cup with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

There has been a growing feeling in Pakistan cricket circles that the BCCI has been following the policy of its government of isolating their country internationally.

Many officials believe India did its best to pressurise Sri Lanka not to play Pakistan after India had cancelled its Test tour in December after the Mumbai attacks.

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt has already described the situation facing Pakistan cricket as very grim following the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus but said it is premature to say World Cup matches could not be held in the country.