ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The prospects of a West Indies tour of Pakistan suffered a setback on Monday after the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) expressed security concerns ahead of a scheduled visit by its women’s team.

“The recent bomb blast at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad has a big impact and that’s one of the main reasons why the WICB has expressed its security apprehensions,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Mansoor Suhail said.

The Marriott Hotel blast in the Pakistan capital earlier this month left 53 dead and hundreds injured.

The West Indies women team are scheduled to play five one-day matches and two Twenty20 matches against their Pakistan counterparts in Karachi, and one Twenty20 in Hyderabad, between Oct 13 and 31.

The PCB has also invited the West Indies men’s team to play two-Test matches in November. However, the WICB is yet to confirm the tour.

“We have reassured the WICB that we will provide foolproof security to their women’s team and we hope the tour will go on,” Mansoor said.

The Pakistan men’s team have not played a Test match this year after Australia postponed their scheduled tour in March and the International Cricket Council (ICC) postponed the Champions Trophy tournament for a year due to security concerns of four leading teams.—AP