The South African cricket team on Wednesday refused to play their fifth and final one-dayer in blast-hit Karachi, forcing the Pakistani authorities to shift the match to Lahore [Images].

"Their decision is very disappointing. They decided not to play in Karachi despite all security assurances given to them by the (Pakistan Cricket) Board and top security officials," said PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi.

"They had sent their security officer to Karachi to inspect everything himself. He met with the top officials and was given every sort of assurances. But despite this they have told us they would like the match shifted to any other venue," he said.

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Naghmi said, for the PCB only possible option was to shift the match to Lahore.

"We had no option but to shift the match to Lahore which is the most viable option for us at this moment because of the last minute changes in logistical details," he said.

Naghmi said the PCB had no doubt that Karachi was safe to host any international event but it had no other choice than to accept the decision of the South African management.

The South African team were badly shaken after a suspected suicide bomber attacked the rally of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto [Images], killing around 140 people and injuring some 500 people last Friday.

"We think Karachi is a good international cricket venue but at this moment our security officer after discussions with cricket South Africa didn't feel it was the right time to let our players travel to Karachi and play there," said Logan Naidoo, the touring team manager.

"We deeply regret this decision especially for the people of Karachi for having deprived them of this opportunity. But unfortunately the members of the South African contingent are not comfortable traveling to Karachi," Naidoo said.

Karachi has been shunned as an international venue by touring teams in the past for security reasons after the 9/11 incident, and since 2002 Australia, West Indies [Images], New Zealand [Images] and South Africa have all refused to play there.

But since last year the situation changed for the better with the Indians taking the lead by playing in Karachi in 2004 and early 2006 followed by the West Indians and on this tour even South Africa played the first Test in Karachi.

PCB Chairman Naseem Ashraf, meanwhile, appreciated the South African team for deciding to continue the tour and not abort it despite the blast just ahead of the second one-dayer.

But the PCB fears that in the near future other touring teams might again create a security stigma over playing at Karachi particularly Australia who are due to tour in February-March next year.

"Once again it will be a difficult situation for us to handle. Especially since Karachi is one of our premier venues and with great difficulty touring teams had resumed playing there," an official said.