India's cricket tour of Pakistan officially called off

India's Cricket tour of Pakistan was on Thursday officially called off with the Government refusing permission to the team to travel across the border in the wake of the Mumbai Terror attacks, putting an end to the prolonged uncertainty on the fate of the series.

The Government's decision was conveyed to the BCCI President Shashank Manohar today through a letter which cited "recent developments as well as the overall circumstances prevailing at present" as the reasons for calling off the high-profile tour.

"The final decision has been taken. We have got the letter from the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs not to proceed with the tour", senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla said.

"The government has declined permission to go ahead with the tour taking into account the recent developments in Mumbai as well as the overall circumstances prevailing at present", Shukla said.