The safety of touring cricket teams in Pakistan had long been an issue . In May 2002 , New Zealand abandoned their Test series in Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack outside their hotel . However , they returned in the 2003/2004 season to fulfill their commitments . Australia had recently refused to tour on safety grounds . The Sri Lankan cricket team was in Pakistan as a replacement for the Indian team , who had pulled out after the Mumbai attacks . In order to persuade the Sri Lankan team to visit , the Pakistan government offered to give them presidential-style security . The series was the first Test tour of Pakistan since South Africa visited in October 2007
suicide bomb attack
2002 Karachi bus bombing
2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team