England fear Karachi fans

England's decision to avoid a Test match in Karachi on their forthcoming tour of Pakistan was due partly to security concerns for the team's "Barmy Army" travelling fans, a Pakistan cricket official said.

England decided they would not play a Test match in the southern port city after a week-long inspection visit by England and Wales Cricket Board security experts to all proposed match venues.

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"They told us they were reluctant to play in Karachi as they had safety concerns not only for their players but also for their supporters," a Pakistan Cricket Board official said on Wednesday.

The official, who declined to be identified, said ECB officials were expecting many England supporters to travel to Pakistan for their team's three Tests and five one-day matches, beginning in October.

Karachi has long been a volatile city with a spate of militant violence since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The city has largely been shunned by visiting teams since.