Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082060621800.htm

Sport

Australians not keen on touring Pakistan

Melbourne: With just three weeks to go for the Champions Trophy, Australian players have made it clear that they won’t be participating in the biennial event that gets underway in Pakistan due to security reasons.

“The ACA has discussed the situation with its executive and our position is we can’t recommend to our players they should tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” Australian Cricketers Association (ACA )chief executive Paul Marsh was quoted as saying in The Australian newspaper on Tuesday.

Although Cricket Australia did not pull out of the event officially, they have clearly voiced their reservations of playing in Pakistan and are currently waiting for an official report from the ICC. “The ICC has got the unambiguous understanding from a collective view on Pakistan,” CA spokesman Peter Young said. “The ball is in their court,” he added. — PTI