Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday it had decided to move 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan due to security concerns.

The decision came at an ICC executive board meeting in Dubai with the international body saying it had acted after noting the "uncertain political situation" in Pakistan.

Expressing regret, Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Ijaz Butt said, "It's a disappointing decision but it can't be helped."

"Nobody wants to play in Pakistan following the attacks in Lahore." Butt added, referring to the March 3 attack on the Sri Lankan squad in the city which killed eight Pakistanis and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.

Pakistan were due to host 14 matches of the event, along with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The country stands to lose 8 to 10 million dollars due to the cancellation.

Terror effect: A timeline

September 2001- New Zealand decide not to tour Pakistan following the September 11 attacks. West Indies and Australia then decide to move their games in Pakistan scheduled for later in the year to neutral venues in Colombo and Sharjah.

May 2002 - New Zealand cancel their tour of Pakistan after a bomb blast outside Karachi's Sheraton Hotel where they were staying.

March 2008 - Australia postpone their tour of Pakistan slated for the end of March as a result of security concerns.The decision was taken in the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto's assasination in December 2007.

August 2008 - Citing security concerns, five out of eight member nations of the ICC choose not to send their teams to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy scheduled for September the same year. As a result, the tournament is postponed until October 2009.

October 2008 - West Indies call off a proposed tour of Pakistan scheduled for November citing security concerns, a week after the West Indies Women had cancelled the Pakistan leg of their Asian tour.

December 2008 - The BCCI call off India's scheduled tour of Pakistan in 2009 following a directive from the government.

December 2008 - The PCB confirm that Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan after India decided not to after the Mumbai terror attack.

February 2009 - The ICC decide not to stage the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan after some of the members expressed reservations about touring the country.