Waugh backs decision to cancel Pak tour

Australia Test captain Steve Waugh has backed the decision by the Australian Cricket Board to cancel an October tour of Pakistan because of security fears.

"I have faith in the ACB and the information processes they have in place which led to the decision," Waugh was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph newspaper on Saturday.

"As a player I accept the decision they have made."

The ACB made the announcement at a news conference in Melbourne on Friday, prompting further threats of a possible boycott by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Australia Test vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said he hoped the three-test series could be played at a neutral venue.

"(I am) a little bit disappointed from a cricket point of view," Gilchrist told reporters in Perth.

"But a little bit relieved about not being put in potentially dangerous situations which the ACB's contacts obviously deemed it a little bit dangerous, and probably couldn't guarantee security.

"I'm sure everyone is keen to see the cricket to go ahead particularly for Pakistan cricket and for world cricket.

"We need to play the series. So whatever venue that is we'll all be happy just to play the games."

Gilchrist suggested Bangladesh as a possible neutral venue. "We have already had one tour cancelled (this year), that was Zimbabwe, so as long as we can fit the cricket in somewhere, it doesn't matter too much," he said.

"I guess Bangladesh is very similar in conditions," Gilchrist said.

SAFETY FEARS

A string of recent cricket tours to Pakistan have been affected due to safety fears.

The triangular one-day series has already been moved to Kenya, New Zealand pulled out of its tour after a bomb attack in Karachi in May killed 11 French people and three Pakistanis and a tour by West Indies was played on neutral territory in Sharjah.

Australia batsman Damien Martyn told reports in Perth: "We see what is going on over there (in Pakistan), and for guys with their families and kids it was always going to be a tough situation.

"I think as a player group we are just happy now a decision has been made and we can get on with whatever schedule comes up from the board."

The ACB confirmed on Friday that their one-day series in Nairobi involving Kenya and Pakistan would proceed as planned starting on August 29.

Mail Cricket Editor