Australian cricketers pondering their decision to tour Pakistan over security concerns: Report

Australia are slated to play three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I on the tour of Pakistan.

By Salman Anjum - 26 Jan, 2022

Australian cricketers are reportedly giving a second thought on their decision to tour Pakistan after an uptick in terror attacks in the Asian country.

The historic tour is scheduled to get underway on March 3, marking Australia's first visit to Pakistan after 24 years.

"We're all toey about it," a source close to the team told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Australia are slated to play three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I on the tour of Pakistan. The matches are due to be held across three venues, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, from March 3 to April 5.

Earlier, national selector George Bailey acknowledged that the security plans were "very, very robust and very, very thorough".

"I believe the boards are still working through some of the minor details around that tour, so once that gets the formal tick of approval then we'll announce the squad post that, but we're reasonably well down the track," Bailey told the reporters.

In September last year, New Zealand had abandoned their limited-overs series in Pakistan moments before the first ODI, citing a security alert from their government. Three days later, England had pulled out of the Pakistan tour, citing the “mental and physical well-being” of players and security concerns.

Notably, Australia haven’t toured Pakistan since 1998 due to security reasons. They have played bilateral series against Pakistan in UAE instead.

Dark clouds are looming over the tour this time around as well after a bomb blast in Lahore killed three people and wounded over 20 last Thursday.

(Inputs from Hindustan Times)

By Salman Anjum - 26 Jan, 2022

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