The International Cricket Council has stripped Pakistan of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup because of the 'uncertain security situation' in the country.
Last month, seven Pakistanis were killed and six Sri Lanka players were injured during an armed attack on their team bus as they travelled to a test match in Lahore.
Pakistan were due to co-host the event with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The ICC said it would press ahead with the matches in the three remaining countries.
Asked if Pakistan would host international tournaments in the near future, ICC president David Morgan said it was highly unlikely that there would be security clearance between now and the start date in 2011.
Pakistan cricket officials and former captains expressed shock and criticised the ICC for acting in haste.
Pakistan Cricket Board director general Javed Miandad, a former test captain, said ICC members should have shown "a little patience" given the World Cup is some time away.
Security review
The ICC has agreed to review security at international matches following the ambush of the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
Lord Condon, the chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, will lead a task force team, which will include ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and ICC directors Jack Clarke and Shashank Manohar.
Mr Lorgat says the review will include an assessment of whether current protocols employed by their members are adequate and, if they are not, what can be done to improve them.
The ICC executive board also agreed that other sports security arrangements should be consulted.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe cricket was told their hopes of a return to Test match status will depend on improvements in its domestic structure.
