Australian cricketers during a training session.
Gulf Report Today
Ahead of the Australian cricket team’s first tour of Pakistan in nearly 24 years, some players are already feeling nervous about traveling to the country.
As Cricket Australia prepares its plans for the trip, recent deadly attacks, including one in Lahore where the team will spend most of the tour, have given players the jitters, according to reports.
A powerful bomb hit a crowded market in Lahore, killing at least three people and injuring 28.
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Head coach George Bailey told reporters on Wednesday that the security measures would be “very, very robust and very, very thorough.”
Cricket Australia said in a statement that the safety and well-being of players and support staff was its priority. He announced a squad for his upcoming tour of Sri Lanka for the Twenty20 series, but suspended announcing a preliminary squad for Pakistan.
Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 for security reasons, instead playing their away matches in the United Arab Emirates. New Zealand abruptly halted a tour there in September citing security concerns and England canceled a scheduled tour shortly after.
Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday that the current wave of terrorism has increased by around 35% to 38% since August 15.
Australia are due to play three Tests, three One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 game in Pakistan from March 3.