India's scheduled tour of Pakistan next month was called off on government advice Thursday following the events that unfolded in Mumbai last month.
The decision, announced in parliament by sports minister M.S. Gill, confirmed widely held expectations that the visit would be cancelled.
India had been due to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international from January 8 to February 19.
"Government of India has advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the Indian team's cricket tour of Pakistan is not feasible in the prevailing circumstances," BCCI's chief administrator, Ratnakar Shetty said in a statement Thursday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had floated the idea of hosting the series in the United Arab Emirates, but Shetty told the CNN-IBN news channel there was no talk of a neutral venue.
The PCB moved quickly to invite Sri Lanka as a replacement opponent, and said it bore no ill will toward the BCCI for cancelling.
PCB chief operating officer Salim Altaf said "We are still on normal terms with BCCI because it was a decision neither in their hands nor in ours."
"They (BCCI) have also said that if the situation gets normal in the future it would send its team to Pakistan," Altaf said.
"Today we have sent an invitation to Sri Lanka to play three Test matches, three limited-overs and a Twenty20 international against us in Pakistan.
"We hope they will agree to it and come after January 20 shortly after hosting Bangladesh."
The BCCI had always maintained the fate of the tour would be determined by government advice.
The government forwarded its decision to the BCCI citing "the recent developments in Mumbai as well as the circumstances prevailing at present."
It will be the third major tour cancellation of Pakistan this year on security grounds. Australia pulled out of its scheduled visit, while the International Cricket Council also postponed the Champions Trophy one-day tournament.
The loss of an India tour will be a significant financial blow to the PCB, with a possible replacement by Sri Lanka not able to compensate for a series against its greatest rival.
Even before the events that unfolded in Mumbai, the tour was clouded by uncertainty due to doubts about the security of Indian players.
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