Melbourne, Nov 28 : Mumbai terror strikes, being described as the biggest terror attacks in India's history, appear to have devastated the world of cricket, as India is the biggest cricket playing nation generating almost three-fourths of world's total income from cricket.

According to a repot in foxsports.com, the terror strikes would have a huge negative impact on the game in India, especially because the terrorists singled out foreign tourists.

It said that the terrorist attack meant that the status of India as world cricket's heavyweight was "now under threat". "Who would want to go there in the future?" said the paper "When India sneezes, the cricket world catches pneumonia. It is a grave concern because India is the new global powerbroker and for every dollar earned in world cricket, India generates 75 cents. Most previous terrorist activity in India has been at a regional level, but it now appears any tourist area could be a potential terrorist target," said the report.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting agreed the terrorist problems in India, and neighbouring Pakistan where tours have been cancelled, were a huge concern for world cricket. "It's a massive concern for everybody, it's a massive international incident. There are a few places for us around the world at the moment for us as cricketers that have been cancelled or postponed. It does make it hard for us as international cricketers and anyone who wants to travel to India. It's a horrible thing to have happened. We hope that it can all be sorted out as soon as possible," the report quoted Ponting as saying.

The bombings mean next week's billion-dollar Twenty20 Champions League - featuring the entire West Australian and Victorian teams plus Test stars such as Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson playing for IPL franchises - will almost certainly be scrapped or stripped of most top players.

But, it also has far greater ramifications as the future of IPL, cricket's new billion-dollar money-spinner, was being scrutinised.

The next IPL tournament is due to be staged in April, but the bombings mean everything is up in the air. "We can't take anything for granted any more. These bombings change everything," a high-placed Indian source said.

ANI