February 10, 2008	Sunday	Safar 02,1429

SYDNEY, Feb 9: An Australian professor in intelligence and counter-terrorism thinks that the Australian cricket squad should not tour Pakistan next month.

An Australian security check is scheduled for Pakistan after the general elections on Feb 18 and if it takes place a decision on whether it is secure for the team to make the trip will be made.

Clive Williams, a professor from Macquarie University’s Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism, told the Sydney Morning Herald that he would not go if he was in Australia’s position.

“It’s a fairly volatile situation in Pakistan at the moment,” Williams, a specialist in national security and Pakistan affairs, opined. “It is not really clear where things will go. I don’t think it would be advisable to go, it would be very dangerous.

“We have got troops in Afghanistan, and while Pakistan are cricket lovers, one way to create news and instability would be to target foreign visitors, especially given we have got an involvement in the war,” he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) this week released four venues for the tour and is ready to provide head-of-state-style security for the visiting Australian squad.

However, Cricket Australia is not sure whether a pre-tour safety inspection can be made following the elections and before the beginning of the tour.

“The security issues in Pakistan are not the fault of the PCB,” CA’s Peter Young told the paper.

“They are keen to go to every length they can to ensure this series goes ahead, and we have got nothing but absolute respect for them. But we cannot go there if our advice tells us it would not be safe to do so.”—Agencies