ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Former Pakistan Test captains on Friday expressed their dismay over India’s decision to cancel next month’s tour to Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, with one player recalling his team toured India in 1999 despite tensions between the nuclear-armed countries.

India had been due to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 International in January-February 2009.

“The series’ cancellation is a big blow to Pakistan,” Wasim said on Friday.

“It will further lessen the charm of Test cricket, which has been under pressure from the rapid-fire brand of cricket – the Twenty20 version.”

Wasim, who played a major role in Pakistan’s victory at the 1992 World Cup, hoped that cricket ties between the neighbouring countries would soon be revived.

“I had thought that India would not mix cricket with politics, but after this [cancellation of tour] one should hope that it’s a temporary phase,” Wasim added.

In 2000, India also stopped cross-border cricket tours due to political tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals. Four years later, India toured Pakistan in what is seen as a series for the ages.

“Deep inside we feel for the victims of Mumbai and hope such incidents do not take place again,” Wasim expressed. “We toured India in 1999 despite tensions and death threats. Now I hope the temperature will go down and cricket will resume because it is very important that India and Pakistan play each other.”

Cricket-starved Pakistan has suffered a huge blow with the cancellation of India’s five-week tour in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, the third event called off here in a year amid security fears.

“Pakistan will suffer both financially and cricket-wise,” said another former captain, Ramiz Raja. “But India in a way is also dependent on Pakistan, and when the two countries play each other, they improve and the following of the game increases,” added Ramiz, who now works as a commentator.

“In a strange way, cricket would have helped in this volatile situation and now I think that both countries need time and space. Once the dust settles, cricket will resume, for the betterment of world cricket,” he added.—Agencies