PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

The Pakistan leg of the West Indies women's tour of Asia this month has been cancelled due to violence in that country.

The Windies women were due to travel to Pakistan on the first leg of their Asian tour that includes matches and a trip to Sri Lanka, but the players have now been advised by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that the Pakistan tour is now off.

The squad will still travel to Sri Lanka.

The Windies were originally slated to play five One-Day International (ODI) matches and three Twenty20 international against Pakistan between October 14 and 31.

At the end of a WICB meeting last week, CEO Donald Peters had expressed uneasiness about the players' safety in Pakistan.

Very concerned

"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," Peters had said then.

Manager of the West Indies women's team Carol Whilby-Maxwell had said last week that the violence in Pakistan 'is an issue' and she had concerns, especially after the Marriott bombing, but she was '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," Whilby-Maxwell said.

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

The squad, with Jamaica-born St Lucian Nadine George as captain, will now prepare to leave at month end for a series of five ODIs in Sri Lanka between November 5 and 12.

This tour is a key part to the team's preparation for the International Cricket Council's Women's World Cup 2009 in Australia in March.

Meanwhile, the WICB is yet to confirm the status of its proposed men's team tour of Pakistan.

The Pakistanis have invited the Windies to play two Test matches and while the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is not in support of the players going to Pakistan, the WICB has not given its final decision on the tour.