March 06, 2008	Thursday	Safar 27 ,1429

CANBERRA, March 5: Australian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan later this month remains in doubt despite talks in the Australian capital on Wednesday.

Cricket Australia (CA) general manager Michael Brown and Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marsh met with officials from Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss security.

Several Australian players expressed concerns about their safety after recent violence in Pakistan. A suicide attack happened on Tuesday in Lahore, one of four centres Pakistan officials had suggested as safe venues for the month-long tour.

The ACA is already so concerned by current safety warnings that it is refusing to send a delegate on a pre-tour inspection.

Brown says both the CA and ACA are yet to decide whether tour will go ahead.

“The Pakistan tour is scheduled to take place and we are making every effort to make sure we meet that future tour commitment,” he said.

“We have issues at the moment that we are working through with Paul, with our players and with the PCB and we will continue that process until we get an outcome.”

The ACA will report back to players after today’s meeting, with a final decision on tour possible within the next few days.

Brown further said the CA and ACA will also have further security briefings before making their decision.

“We’ve spoken with Pakistani authorities on regular occasions,” he said.

“We had an ‘A’ team tour there last year that was extremely successful in level of security that was afforded to the team was exactly as promised. “Our interim discussions give us no reason to think that won’t be afforded to us again.”—Agencies