Australia weighing up risks of Pakistan cricket tour

Australia were assessing the risks of touring Pakistan this September after a bomb killed 12 people - mostly French - outside the New Zealand cricket team's hotel in Karachi.

None of the Kiwi tour party, barring a minor injury to team physiotherapist, Dayle Shackel who received a minor cut to his forearm from flying glass, was injured. However, New Zealand reacted quickly in calling off the tour and summoning their players home from Pakistan.

The Australian Cricket Board has been monitoring the New Zealand tour as it assesses the possible risk and decides whether to proceed.

Six weeks ago, ACB cancelled the Australian team's tour to Zimbabwe after deciding the risk was too great following political unrest in the African country.

An ACB spokesman said a statement would be released later today. The only other time Australia refused to tour a country was during the 1996 World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka when Australia would not play matches in Colombo.

Pakistan is due to play three one-day internationals in Australia in June.

New Zealand's tour to Pakistan was to have taken place last year but was postponed following the September 11 attacks in the United States.

Mail Cricket Editor