Cricket Australia will push ahead with the first tour of Pakistan in 24 years, with chief executive Nick Hockley insistent he wants the trip in March to go ahead.
The Pakistan Cricket Board moved one step closer to hosting Australia’s men’s side on Monday, with the two boards agreeing to a tour schedule.
Australia are slated to play Tests in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore in March, as well as three ODIs and a Twenty20 match.
Australia have not played in Pakistan since Mark Taylor hit an unbeaten 334 in Peshawar in 1998, with security concerns meaning all tours since have been played in the UAE.
International cricket returned to the country in recent years for the first time since the 2009 bombing of the Sri Lanka team bus, but New Zealand’s withdrawal from a tour in September had clouded that.
At the time New Zealand Cricket claimed it had seen a “specific and credible threat against the team” on the morning of the first ODI.
England also withdrew from a subsequent tour, bringing into serious question Australia’s trip to the country at the start of next year.
But Australia are adamant they want to tour, in the biggest step towards a return to the country since former chief executiveKevin Roberts’ visit there in 2019.
“We will work over the next three months, we’re going to be doing a (reconnaissance) over to Pakistan,” Hockley told AAP.
“We will be working with all the relevant agencies to do our due diligence to make sure security programs are in place.
“As is the case with any tour, the tour remains subject to all of those plans being in place.
“But certainly, there is really strong intent to want to go. International touring has resumed there.
“But as we always do, we will put the safety and wellbeing of players and staff as No.1 priority.”
The matches will also mark Australia’s first Tests overseas since the Ashes in 2019, with tours of South Africa and Bangladesh postponed due to COVID-19.
The news comes ahead of Australia’s semi-final clash with Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, in the biggest game between the two teams in more than a decade.
Hockley and new interim CA chairman Richard Freudenstein will travel to Dubai on Tuesday night for high-powered ICC meetings to finish the tournament.
The tour of Pakistan will no doubt be front and centre in some talks, with former PCB chief executive Wasim Khan critical of Australia’s decision not to play ODIs there in 2019.
Australia would also be expected to speak to New Zealand officials about their withdrawal.
“We are in regular contact with all the other member countries,” Hockley said.
“We’re all working to make sure international cricket can continue and can thrive. We’ll work over the next three months.
“The work over the next three months is to satisfy ourselves to make sure all the plans are in place to make sure everyone is safe.”
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah, take your life in your hands on the ground on some of those India/Pakistan tours pre 80s. Not sure if they still have barbed wire fences around the grounds. Last Test I attended in India was 2004 in Mumbai and they were still up then, but the ground has been redeveloped since then. Setting fires at the the top of the stand was still a thing then.
Clear as mud
Guest
That's good to know. I like a bit of trouble or edge, but now with girls, not too much. And yes have felt like was going to die for sure ina dodgy motel car park in Colorado. and safe as a house in Mexcio City despite all the uniformed women with machine guns. however i am generally unlikley to be a target if anyone (other than Scomo) wants to make a political statement. So I get that players would need a lot of assurance (which is all it is, assurance). i really hope safe cricket tours can return. (unrelatedish but yesterday was reading some of the clips from 82-3, Hughes and co sent over with no leadup cricket out of season,objects thrown at them almost every game, pitch invasions etc. it's another lifetime ago... and not at all. another series where maybe we should have come home? 88 seemed less skitttish? )
Paul
Roar Guru
The Sharkies start their season on the 11th of March so perfect timing for him to focus on that and not screw with this tour.
Kancil Kulcherarse
Guest
Weird move as Pakistan is still the base of Al-Quada operations within Afghanistan. What's stopping them getting to venues where Australia is playing? Only the cost of a bus ticket.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: you know of course Jeff, or let me me be civil and assume you dont, :stoked: but the best lies are those which contain an element of truth.. Cheers hope you are well boet.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Whoa. It has to be valid? :laughing:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The harsh truth is that tours between India, Australia and England are the only real priority of those 3 countries.Anything else is an easy cancellation given a half reasonable valid excuse...
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but if you don't caught caught....like overstepping the line in a delivery...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
But that's illegal. :shocked:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
That's why one must plant one's foot ahead of the lights.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Travel there and you'll be doted on. To the point of annoyance TBH. But at least without the tourist-tout, rip-you-off-at-every-opportunity, lie-to-you-to get-an outcome, that is prevalent in many other destinations. But once you're a guest there, you're treated with the highest respect.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Cool. Did you know that travelling at 60 km/hr you are already decisively legally through the intersection once you are within 50 metres even if it changes from green to yellow?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yep. But to be clear, the decisive point of the sunset was reached about 10 mins before it set :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
So that's what it is. Hmmmm
Jeff
Roar Rookie
On the subcontinent? Absolutely!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Nah. I don't believe there are similar stock photos of the Waugh twins or Slater comparable to the Tubby photo in late hazy Peshawar sunlight, so just wouldn't have the same cut-through.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sadly, Scotty and his 3 marketeers will likely still be in control by the time of the scheduled tour. Scotty will not only get involved due to his inability to stay schtum, but he will completely blow all related FP implications, due to his inability to stay schtum. Can we get the PMO to schedule a trip to Hawaii or maybe an extended attendance at NRL games around the time of the tour? It's not a race, but ...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
How about a headline of 'Australia to return to Pakistan 23 and half years after centuries by Michael Slater and the Waugh twins sealed Australia's first series win there in 39 years'?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Oh ... didn't realise they had the itinerary worked out already ... I haven't had time to read the article, was far more interested in the kinds of comments people would make.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
1st Test: Karachi 3-7 March 2nd Test: Rawalpindi 12-16 March 3rd Test: Lahore: 21-25 March