September 21, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: Former Australian Test batsman Dean Jones has termed the Australian cricket squad’s visit to India unfair with regard to Ricky Ponting-led team’s pulling out from the tour of Pakistan earlier this month.

Writing his article in the Canberra Times, Jones maintained that Australian team’s visit to India constitutes a double standard.

“By touring India we are saying that bombs going off in one country are a deal breaker but not in another. We shouldn’t be surprised by this attitude though,” he wrote.

“Pakistan did a brilliant job with security and you could see how good cricket was for the people. They were able to enjoy the series and not worry about the problems of their country’,” Jones said.

The Sydney Morning Herald, in its editorial, too has criticised Cricket Australia’s (CA) decision to go ahead with the tour of India.

According to the editorial “having cancelled this year’s plan of tour to Pakistan on security grounds, CA now faces accusations of hypocrisy for agreeing to tour India in the wake of terrorist bombings in Delhi”.

It said Pakistan’s chagrin is understandable. While Pakistan suffers an inordinate degree of instability, visiting sportsmen have really, if ever, been targeted.—APP