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| July 11, 2008 | Friday | Rajab 7, 1429 |
Symonds still not convinced over touring Pakistan
SYDNEY, July 10: Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds said on Thursday he had yet to be convinced Pakistan would be a safe venue for the ICC Champions Trophy in September.
Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have expressed concern over playing in Pakistan after a deadly suicide blast in Islamabad last Sunday.
Symonds arrived home from a West Indies tour on Thursday and told reporters that while keeping an open mind he was yet to be convinced it was safe to play in Pakistan.
“My feelings haven’t changed a great deal,” said Symonds, who first raised objections about Australia’s scheduled Test tour of Pakistan in April, which was eventually cancelled following a wave of suicide bombings.
“I don’t mind the odd game of cricket for Australia, but it is only a game at the end of the day, and putting yourself in a position where you’re not safe, to me is ridiculous,” he added.
Acting captain Michel Clarke, deputising for injured skipper Ricky Ponting, refused to express an opinion, instead preferring to leave the call up to the game’s administrators.
Clarke said he would wait to hear what Cricket Australia (CA), the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided on the issue.
Shane Watson, who revived his international career in the West Indies after being drafted in to replace injured Matthew Hayden, said he would play for his country wherever he was asked.
“Personally, I’d go anywhere, I’ll play anywhere, I just want to play for my country,” Watson told reporters.
“That’s what I’ve worked so hard for, the injuries I’ve had, pretty up and down times over the last year, so I’d do anything to play for my country so wherever we have to go, I’ll go.”
Australia are drawn in a pool comprising India, Pakistan and the West Indies, and are scheduled to play their first match against India in Lahore on Sept 13.
The final is to be played in Lahore on Sept 28, with Australia to follow the tournament by making a four-Test tour of India in October.—AFP
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