BY VINODE MAMCHAN

The West Indies women’s cricket team tour of Pakistan has been canceled due to violence in that country.

The West Indies women were due to travel to Pakistan on the first leg of their Asian tour that includes matches in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

West Indies was due to play five one-dayers and three Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan. The team was to have arrived in Karachi on October 14. The ODIs are between October 18 and 26, before the Twenty20 matches on October 28, 29 and 31.

However, Trinidad Guardian understands that the players selected on the team have been advised by officials of the West Indies Women’s Cricket Board of Control that the tour is now officially off.

At the end of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) meeting last week, CEO Dr Donald Peters said: “We are very concerned that the female players will be at risk especially in light of the Marriott bombing and as such, the Pakistan leg of the tour has been put on hold until the safety of the team is determined.”

Manager of the West Indies team Carol Wilby-Maxwell said last week: “Of course the violence in Pakistan is an issue but while I am concerned, especially after the Marriott bombing, I am not fearful.

“I am not saying that the team should go, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what part of the world you are in, there will be potential danger.”

However, it has been decided by all stake holders that the best decision right now is to keep out of Pakistan.

The West Indies men’s team has been invited to play two Test matches in Pakistan at the end of this month and currently there is no firm decision on whether the tour will come off.

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is not in support of the players going to Pakistan and Dr Peters said if the board does not get the support of WIPA, they would have to go to the players directly.

At the last WICB meeting last Monday the directors of the board asked that an independent security firm be hired to assess the situation in Pakistan and a report sent to them before a decision is made.