Pakistan tour on CA agenda | Herald Sun

Pakistan tour on CA agenda | Herald Sun: "Pakistan tour on CA agenda
Article from: Herald Sun

Jon Pierik

February 01, 2008 12:00am

AUSTRALIA'S slated tour of Pakistan next month is expected to face strong opposition today when the Cricket Australia board meets for the first time this year.

In what promises to be a day of tense talks about several issues, Pakistan will be high on the agenda.

Officials will also discuss Bangladesh's Test series in Darwin and Cairns, which clashes with the Olympics.

There are suggestions the two Tests could be culled, with the three one-dayers remaining. If both Tests do remain, there is now the possibility both will be held in Darwin.

India's controversial tour will also be a major talking point, with some officials concerned the relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India has been strained.

Australia is due to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on the six-week tour of Pakistan from mid-March, but that was thrown into chaos after the assassination of former president Benazir Bhutto in December.

Australia is due to complete a pre-tour security check after the February 18 elections a"elections are held, but it's understood some officials are reluctant to do this because of safety fears.

CA, the Australian Cricketers' Association and security chiefs have been in regular contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

DFAT's safety and security fears are highlighted by the Australian embassies in Karachi and Lahore - two major cricketing cities - being closed.

Australia's players are loath to visit the strife-torn country which has averaged one suicide bombing a week in the past year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is adamant the tour will go ahead and Australia will be given security fit for a king.

But CA has been working on strategies to abandon the tour and play it in a neutral venue.

Australia's tour in 2002 was transferred to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates because of safety issues.

The Zimbabwe team has been in Pakistan in recent weeks, but there is a feeling Australia would be a more high-profile target.

DFAT's travel warning continues to provide damning evidence why the tour should be scrapped.

"We strongly advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Pakistan at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, sectarian violence and the unpredictable security situation," the advice says.

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson is adamant Australian players will be safe, while the PCB's director of cricket operations, Zakir Khan, agrees.

"We feel the Australians would be safe in Pakistan and they would be provided the same top-level security which has been given to other teams in recent past and who have gone home after incident-free tours," Khan said.