Aussies hope to play cricket again in Pak once security situation improves

From ANI

Sydney, Sept 21: After yesterday's suicide attack on a hotel killing nearly 53 persons, Cricket Australia (CA), which had twice declined to play in Pakistan in the past six months citing "security reasons", has said that it hoped the security situation in Pakistan would calm down so that international cricket could again be played there.

CA public affairs manager Peter Young Australian cricketers had always enjoyed playing against Pakistan, and that they would surely tour Pakistan next year as per the schedule.

"Everyone is praying quite fervently that the domestic situation there settles down so people can live their life in peace and hopefully we can start playing cricket there again," The News quoted Young as saying.

Australia was one of the nations that declined to tour Pakistan this month for the ICC Champions Trophy on "security" grounds, which led to the tournament being put off by a year.

Australia also refused to undertake a Test tour of Pakistan last March-April over similar fears, instead agreeing to split it in two parts in 2009 and again in 2010.

"We do have cricket scheduled in Pakistan in 2009 and as always we'll do a pre-tour assessment before we travel there," Young said.


Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com