New Zealand Cancel Planned Tour Of Pakistan

New Zealand were due to tour Pakistan at the end of the year but chief executive Justin Vaughan said there was no way the trip could go ahead after six Sri Lanka players were wounded and eight Pakistanis killed when gunmen fired on their coach.

"The tour has been called off," Vaughan told New Zealand radio on Wednesday. "We are not going, I think that's pretty clear."

He added: "And I don't think any international team will be going to Pakistan in the foreseeable future."

Vaughan said New Zealand still wanted the series to go ahead but it would have to be played at a neutral venue, possibly in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

"We will meet with Pakistan authorities next time we see them, which will probably be either at ICC (International Cricket Council) meetings in April or June and then talk about what the options are," Vaughan said.

"I think the options would probably revolve around playing at a neutral venue. They have played previous games in the Gulf States, in Abu Dhabi and we'd want to assess Pakistan's thinking about that."

Pakistan have already agreed to meet Australia for five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in April after the Australians refused to tour Pakistan.

The ICC expects all other international teams to stay away for the foreseeable future after gunmen attacked the touring Sri Lankan team's bus with rifles, grenades and rockets.

Six players and a British coach were wounded while it was being driven to the Gaddafi stadium for the third day of the second test against Pakistan.