November 15, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 04, 1428

HOBART, Nov 14: Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has expressed reservations about touring Pakistan next year, saying there has been a lot of “bombs going off”.

While the Queenslander appeared to be joking around while chatting with the media at the Bellerive Oval nets here on Wednesday, it does underline doubts over whether Australia will make their three-Test tour as planned to Pakistan in March, where the nation is currently in a state of emergency.

National elections are due early next year before the tour, around the time Cricket Australia will make a pre-tour safety inspection.

“There do seem to be a lot of bombs going off over there,” a grinning Symonds said as Australia prepared for Friday’s second Test against Sri Lanka.

“At the end of the day it is only a game of cricket. But I suppose being the diplomat that I am, we are going to have to wait and see when we get closer to the time how many bombs are going off over there. But it is being bombed.”

Australia’s three-Test tour of Pakistan in 2002-03 was moved to Colombo and Sharjah because of security issues.

Australian Cricketers’ Association chief Paul Marsh said on Wednesday: “Obviously we’re concerned. But we’re just going to have to wait and see what the result of the election is in early January and how things pan out from there.”

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the situation would be assessed again in January.

“We’re not going to be anywhere near danger and we have moved a previous Pakistan tour,” Young said. “But we’ll have a look at that situation and go through that normal process with Cricket Australia, the ACA and the Australian government.”—Agencies