The International Cricket Council have warned they could hit India with financial sanctions for snubbing a tour of Pakistan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said they would abide by their government's decision to cancel next month's tour of Pakistan because of hostile relations between the two countries.

But ICC chief Malcolm Gray warned: "We cannot override governments, if a government instructs not to play any team there is nothing we can do apart from putting pressure on that board.

"The sanctions can only be either financial or ultimately, I suppose, the only power would be to suspend their membership from playing anybody else and ICC do not have that power at the moment.

"But by that you put pressure back on the government to review the decision. It would be sad if India and Pakistan do not play each other but it should not happen.

"It's a pity that politics appears with sports but it's a matter between two governments and they act as per their foreign policy."

The Pakistan Cricket Board have demanded financial compensation from the ICC, claiming the cancelled tour will cost them over £6million.