LAHORE, March 5 Pakistan captain Younis Khan has urged world cricket authorities to help keep international cricket alive in his country despite this week`s terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team.

The attack on Tuesday, which killed six policemen and a civilian and injured seven members of the Sri Lanka touring party, had imperilled the future of the sport in Pakistan, with international cricket unlikely in the near term.

“I appeal for all the bosses and the ICC [International Cricket Council] to not let cricket die here,” Younis told cricinfo.com website on Thursday.“It would be very easy right now for the ICC and the bosses to say there will be no cricket in Pakistan, but the future will not be good if cricket is taken away from my country.

“It is up to the ICC and the bosses from around the world to make sure that cricket is not lost in Pakistan because of a couple of mad people. It is not the sportsmen`s fault,” Younis added.

Prior to Sri Lanka`s visit, Pakistan had long been avoided by foreign cricket teams, with Australia, India and the West Indies refusing visits, and the ICC Champions Trophy called off on security grounds.

“Sport helps to make good human beings,” Younis said. “If the sport is not there, the children can do silly things.

“Nobody wants to see children going down a bad path and finding themselves involved with bombs and things like that.”

Ijaz Butt, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said on Wednesday the future of international cricket returning to Pakistan looked bleak if the security situation did not improve.However, Younis said it was important young Pakistanis be inspired by seeing international cricket.

“Maybe in the future we will be alone [as a cricketing nation] and that would be very sad — especially for the youngsters,” the skipper stated.

“When I was a boy, I loved watching Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram playing against great teams from overseas. It is because of them — seeing them play — that I also played the game.

“But what if no one comes to Pakistan? How will the youngsters know about the game? What will they do?”With home internationals unlikely for some time, Younis said Pakistan players will pursue their careers in lucrative Twenty20 leagues in India — ICL and IPL — and England`s domestic game.

“If something is not done quickly, maybe everyone goes to the IPL, ICL or county cricket,” Younis, who scored an epic 313 against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Karachi last month, said. “I hope that does not happen.”—AP