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Lee says Pakistan tour in hands of Cricket Australia

Monday, February 4, 2008

BRISBANE: Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said Sunday that any decision on whether or not the world champions tour Pakistan next month was in the hands of Australian
officials.

Lee was responding to reports from Pakistan that Zimbabwe's successful tour there showed that it would be safe for Australia to undertake their scheduled visit in March and April.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said the Zimbabwe tour had been a test case for Australia.

"Now I can say with authority and pride that we have successfully hosted matches and hope that the world champions will tour,"
Naghmi told a foreign news agency in Karachi.

"We hosted Zimbabwe matches in smaller centres like Hyderabad and Sheikhupura and hosting of these matches without any problems prove that there are no threats for players."


Several Australian players have raised security concerns on touring Pakistan where the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December last year triggered widespread violence.

But Lee said he couldn't comment on whether the Zimbabwe tour would have any bearing on a future Australian tour.

"We've got people on the ground over there and we're just guided by Cricket Australia every single day as to what's going to happen over there,"
Lee said.

"It's pretty much out of our hands -- it's up to them to work out what's the best thing for us."


Zimbabwe continued their Pakistan tour despite a deadly bomb blast in Karachi last month.

They played matches in Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura during their three-week stay.

Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in March-April, a visit which has come under serious doubt over security fears.

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Will Pakistan Premier League gain success just like Indian Premier League ?