New Zealand call off women's tour

England's tour of India may be still on, but the New Zealand women's team visit to the sub-continent, which was scheduled for next month, has been cancelled.

"This was not a decision which was taken lightly but I am satisfied this is the right decision at this time," Martin Snedden, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said. "In my view, the level of risk which exists there is unacceptable."

The Kiwis had been due to play five one-day internationals, three one-day tour matches and a four-day Test during the four-week tour. Many of the matches were scheduled to take place in northern venues closest to the conflict in Afghanistan.

"I am aware how devastated some of the players and team management will be at this decision," Snedden said. "The women's team has far more limited opportunities to travel than their male counterparts and the players have been preparing throughout the winter for the challenge of competing in India."

The decision to stay at home came in the wake of the New Zealand men's tour of Pakistan being cancelled and the A team's Indian tour being cut short.

"Women's cricket in India is run by the Women's Cricket Association of India, which has a voluntary administration and few resources," Snedden said.

"It was clear to me that there would be little or no security arrangements in place for the team, and no ability to remove the team quickly from a region or out of the country should there be civil unrest or an escalation of military or terrorist activity."