A Cricket Australia official has dispelled the impression that the tour to Pakistan was virtually cancelled after a powerful cricketers' body decided not to send its representative.
KARACHI: A Cricket Australia official has dispelled the impression that the tour to Pakistan was virtually cancelled after a powerful cricketers' body decided not to send its representative with the security delegation of CA to assess the situation in the strife-torn nation.
Peter Young, CA's media manager, told PTI that while the Australian Cricketers' Association had informed them of their decision not to send a representative in the current situation in Pakistan but it had taken no final decision on the tour.
"At the moment the cricketers' association is very much a part of the process in which we are getting advice from independent security consultants to dispassionately assess the security situation in Pakistan for the series," Young said.
"We are keen to tour Pakistan but we have to complete a process which we undertake before touring any country to ensure the safety and security of our players. But, at the moment we have taken no final decision on the tour," he added.
Chances of Australia touring to Pakistan have dimmed considerably after a latest suicide bomb attack yesterday inside the heavily-guarded Naval War College on the busy Mall road in Lahore.
The blast, which left seven people dead, is expected to have serious repercussions on the tour as the Australians were expected to agree to the shortened tour on the condition that most of their matches would be held in Lahore.
Even South Africa, during their tour of Pakistan last October and November, played one Test, a practice match and three one-day internationals in Lahore because of security reasons.
Young refused to comment on the latest bomb blast, but said CA and the ACA would be getting a briefing on the security situation in Pakistan from their Ministry of Foreign and Trade Affairs in Canberra today.
The CA is yet to announce a date for their security inspection team's visit to Pakistan this month before the scheduled tour from March 29.
Young did not feel the ACA had taken a final decision on cancelling the tour, but said they were working in conjunction with CA to assess the ground realities and there was no bias against Pakistan.
Reminded about the comments of Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson that Australia should go ahead with the tour, Young said the CA would take into account his feedback.
A spokesman for the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said as yet no government-to-government level talks had been held on the tour and to address the concerns of CA.
"At the moment it is a matter between the two boards. We are not involved. We will wait and see what transpires," he said.
The President of the ACA, former Test player Darren Lehmann, avoided making any comments on his association's decision not to send a representative to Pakistan.
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