KARACHI, March 12: Cricket legend Imran Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan was paying the price for backing the US-led ‘war on terror’ after Australia postponed a tour of the troubled country.

Imran, who captained Pakistan to World Cup glory in 1992 and then retired to become a politician, blamed President Pervez Musharraf for the Australian decision to pull out of the tour.

“Musharraf blindly follows the United States in the war against terror and we are paying the price. Because of that we are now at a stage when no one is ready to play cricket here,” Imran expressed.

Imran added fans would feel deprived by Australia’s pullout from the tour, in which they were due to play two Tests and three One-day Internationals.

“People feel the Australians are unjustified in pulling out, but Australia’s decision is understandable as everything that happens in Pakistan is magnified to larger proportions abroad,” said Imran, who played 88 Tests for his country.

Australia put off their tour to Pakistan on Tuesday over security fears on the day when two blasts left 26 dead in Lahore – a city where they were due to play a Test and one-dayer.

“Australians don’t live here and they don’t know that bombings are not aimed at sportsmen but terrorists’ targets are specific. No one has ever targeted sportsmen in Pakistan.”

Imran has been a vocal critic of Musharraf, who seized power in a military coup in 1999 and then backed the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 following the Sept 11 attacks on the US.

Imran said cricket in Pakistan would lose out in terms of money and interest.

“This pullout by Australia will make Pakistan cricket poorer. Had they toured it would have created a lot of interest as everyone wants to see them play here. That is gone now for at least until the tour is rescheduled,” he stated.

“Pakistan will also lose revenue by not hosting a high-profile series and we have come to a position where we only play minnows like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday said they were insured against any losses from the pullout and had arranged a five-match one-day series and a Twenty20 match with Bangladesh, the schedule of which will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says PCB and Cricket Australia (CA) should have held more discussions and waited for some more time before postponing the Australian tour to his country.

“It’s very sad Australia decided to scrap the tour of Pakistan. It’s not good for cricket,” 38-year-old Inzamam, currently captaining Lahore Badshahs at the Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 tournament said in Panchkula on Wednesday.

He added Australia should have toured Pakistan, even if it could have been delayed by some time.

CA’s decision will not be good for Pakistan cricket, especially when a young team is trying to rebuild itself, he said.

“The two boards should have sat down and had more discussions. Both should have tried to find a way to save the tour,” he stated.

Inzamam said he was happy that several talented youngsters were showing their mettle in the ongoing ICL tournament.

—Agencies