Australia defers Pakistan tour

Putting an end to all the speculations related to Australian cricket team’s Pakistan bound tour, Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have announced that the Australian Cricket team proposed tour to Pakistan in the month March-April 2008 has been postponed.

The new dates for the tour will be decided in the near future. The Chairmen of the respective cricket boards will have a meeting in Dubai next weekend to further discuss the possible dates for the deferred tour.

Since the ICC Future Tours Program is very complex and the changes require extensive consultation with other country boards with whom Australia and Pakistan have existing commitments of playing in the coming months.

Commenting on the decision, CA Chairman Creagh O’Connor quoted in CA’s website, “We are very sorry that the tour could not take place at this time.

“This was a difficult decision based on independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan at the moment.

“We wish no loss to Pakistan Cricket Board and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future”.

However, PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf said, “We are obviously very disappointed at this decision but I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour of Australia to Pakistan can materialise at the earliest opportunity.”