Karachi: Former captain Rameez Raja on Sunday urged the ICC and the cricket playing nations to support Pakistan instead of isolating it in the aftermath of the Lahore terror attacks on Sri Lankan players.

The cricketer-turned-commentator pleaded that Pakistani cricket should not be made to pay for the terror attacks that injured six Lankan players.

"Pakistan has been through a lot in the last few years and terrorism has taken its toll. But never has any cricket team been targeted. The attack on the Sri Lankans has left the entire nation appalled at what happened," he said on Saturday.

"I just think that in these testing times everyone needs to support us and we don't need people turning away from us," he added.

Rameez pointed said Pakistan had a rich cricketing history and should not be abandoned by other nations at this time.

"I think the entire cricket world should rally around us. This is the time to support Pakistan, not knock us down. I can understand teams' reservations about touring Pakistan but having said that it's also an excellent opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan when we need it most," he said.

"Cricket is our way of life. Cricket is the best entertainment to Pakistani people so to snatch it away would be the worst thing that could happen to us. I just want that others don't take knee jerk reaction decisions after the unfortunate attack," Rameez said.

Rameez said the ICC, while suggesting that it would be hard for teams to play in Pakistan in the foreseeable future, should have been more "compassionate".

"I would have liked to have heard them being a little more caring to Pakistan ? their statement sounded a little plastic," he said.

"People must understand we realise the reluctance of teams to tour Pakistan after this incident but it would be catastrophic if cricket is taken away from Pakistan," he added.