Australia's Pak tour in doubt over security concerns
Friday, 15 February 2008
SYDNEY, FEB 14 (AP): Cricket Australia will continue to monitor the security situation in Pakistan before deciding whether its March tour will proceed, amid reports that players will boycott the trip regardless of the decision.
The Australian newspaper reported Thursday that most of Australia's senior players had made it privately clear they would pull out of any visit to Pakistan. Australia is due to leave in the second week of March for three tests, five one-day matches and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting later said, "there is no doubt at all that in our dressing room there are some concerns." "Anybody that would be touring Pakistan at the moment, whether they be a cricketer or a day-to-day citizen, would have concerns," he said.
Pakistan organizers do not want to play the series on neutral turf and have offered a fewer number of venues with upgraded security for the six-week tour.
Cricket Australia spokes-man Peter Young said further security assessments needed to be made.
"We are aware of (the players') concerns and we share those concerns, and we won't be sending our players anywhere that isn't safe," Young said. "We have to assess what is going on, but we have a good track record of getting things right and also of demonstrating that we can make hard decisions." Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Australia has not toured Pakistan for 10 years and wanted to go if the circumstances were right.
There were independent security experts advised Cricket Australia against touring Pakistan, and a letter outlining that information was sent to Pakistan cricket authorities.
Young said Australia had not made any decision to abandon the tour.
"Broadly, the letter reiterates there are some significant obstacles but that's not to say the obstacles are locked doors," Young said.
"We need to work through (them)." Young played down threats attributed to the Pakistan cricket officials that if Australia did not tour Pakistan, then it would refuse to tour Australia as scheduled next year. "The particular circumstances this time include significant concerns about safety and security that we just can't ignore."
The Australian newspaper reported Thursday that most of Australia's senior players had made it privately clear they would pull out of any visit to Pakistan. Australia is due to leave in the second week of March for three tests, five one-day matches and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting later said, "there is no doubt at all that in our dressing room there are some concerns." "Anybody that would be touring Pakistan at the moment, whether they be a cricketer or a day-to-day citizen, would have concerns," he said.
Pakistan organizers do not want to play the series on neutral turf and have offered a fewer number of venues with upgraded security for the six-week tour.
Cricket Australia spokes-man Peter Young said further security assessments needed to be made.
"We are aware of (the players') concerns and we share those concerns, and we won't be sending our players anywhere that isn't safe," Young said. "We have to assess what is going on, but we have a good track record of getting things right and also of demonstrating that we can make hard decisions." Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Australia has not toured Pakistan for 10 years and wanted to go if the circumstances were right.
There were independent security experts advised Cricket Australia against touring Pakistan, and a letter outlining that information was sent to Pakistan cricket authorities.
Young said Australia had not made any decision to abandon the tour.
"Broadly, the letter reiterates there are some significant obstacles but that's not to say the obstacles are locked doors," Young said.
"We need to work through (them)." Young played down threats attributed to the Pakistan cricket officials that if Australia did not tour Pakistan, then it would refuse to tour Australia as scheduled next year. "The particular circumstances this time include significant concerns about safety and security that we just can't ignore."