Aussies cautious on Pakistan tour
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Australia hope to tour Pakistan next March despite the security crisis caused by the killing of the country's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, reports BBC.
"There's a commitment to tour Pakistan and we'll be pursuing every avenue for that tour to go ahead," said Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland.
"At the same time, we have absolutely as top priority the safety and security of our players and employees. "That is what we'll be focused on as we review all the relevant circumstances."
He continued: "We'll be taking all the necessary advice ahead of the tour so we know whether it's actually appropriate or not to be making that visit."
The Australians are due to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan, their first full tour of the country since 1998.
The 2002 series between the two sides was played at neutral venues in Sharjah and Sri Lanka because of security concerns.
But Sutherland added: "Whether we play in a neutral venue is not up to Cricket Australia, it's a matter for the Pakistan Cricket Board."
Cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, is keen for the tour to go ahead, if at all possible.
"Security can't be guaranteed anywhere," chief executive Malcolm Speed said.
"It's been a long time since Australia has played in Pakistan so there'll be a lot of Pakistani fans who'll be waiting for this great Australian team to come and play against their team.
"I think we just need to let things settle down and then go from there."
Ms Bhutto, a former Pakistan Prime Minister, was assassinated in a suicide attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi Tuesday.
She was shot in the neck by a gunman, who then set off a bomb which killed at least 20 other people and injured several others.
Australia's recently elected PM, Kevin Rudd, confirmed that time would be taken to fully assess the situation before a final decision about the cricket tour is taken.
"There's a commitment to tour Pakistan and we'll be pursuing every avenue for that tour to go ahead," said Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland.
"At the same time, we have absolutely as top priority the safety and security of our players and employees. "That is what we'll be focused on as we review all the relevant circumstances."
He continued: "We'll be taking all the necessary advice ahead of the tour so we know whether it's actually appropriate or not to be making that visit."
The Australians are due to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan, their first full tour of the country since 1998.
The 2002 series between the two sides was played at neutral venues in Sharjah and Sri Lanka because of security concerns.
But Sutherland added: "Whether we play in a neutral venue is not up to Cricket Australia, it's a matter for the Pakistan Cricket Board."
Cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, is keen for the tour to go ahead, if at all possible.
"Security can't be guaranteed anywhere," chief executive Malcolm Speed said.
"It's been a long time since Australia has played in Pakistan so there'll be a lot of Pakistani fans who'll be waiting for this great Australian team to come and play against their team.
"I think we just need to let things settle down and then go from there."
Ms Bhutto, a former Pakistan Prime Minister, was assassinated in a suicide attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi Tuesday.
She was shot in the neck by a gunman, who then set off a bomb which killed at least 20 other people and injured several others.
Australia's recently elected PM, Kevin Rudd, confirmed that time would be taken to fully assess the situation before a final decision about the cricket tour is taken.