KARACHI, Jan 10: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has expressed hope that Australia would visit the country as planned in March despite a suicide bomb explosion outside the Lahore High Court on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters here at the National Stadium after his arrival from the Christmas holidays in Australia, Lawson, however, said that the clearance of the eagerly-awaited Australian tour to Pakistan – their first in nine years - largely depended on the security delegation’s visit from Down Under soon after the general elections on Feb 18.

The former Australian fast bowler, who was appointed as the Pakistan coach last July, reiterated he felt safe in Pakistan and remained unperturbed by the recent incidents.

“Frankly speaking, I don’t know much about the blast since I am here in Karachi. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that I feel safe in Pakistan. I’ve expressed that to some of the Australian players and informally to Cricket Australia (CA) but they will make their own decisions,” he added.

The latest attack, in which more than 20 people died, has put the tour – that includes three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 game – by Australia in further doubts. Already some of the players, notably Andrew Symonds, have raised fears about touring Pakistan.

However, CA, which have adopted a wait-and-see policy at this point in time, are due to send a security delegation to assess the situation in Pakistan before taking a final decision.

“The Australians want to see what state Pakistan is in after the elections. Considering the situation, CA do their own thorough investigation and make careful judgments because they know the importance of the series and their relationship with Pakistan,” Lawson remarked.

But personally Lawson said he would like the series to take place. “I sincerely hope that the tour takes place because it is going to be a good series.”

When questioned whether he supported the idea of the series played at neutral venues in case Australia refuses to visit Pakistan, Lawson, after a pause, said: “It will be up to the administrators of the game to decide. But I would like the series to take place.”

The coach eyed a clean sweep of the coming five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. “With due respect to Zimbabwe, we must beat them 5-0 if we play to our potential. That would be a great result to get us ready for Australia.

“Hopefully we may field a couple of newcomers against Zimbabwe to see how good they are. I’m looking forward to the high performers’ camp to watch these players at the weekend,” he said.

Lawson, who watched the fourth day’s play in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final on Thursday, refused to believe that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was a spent force after a lacklustre series in India late last year.

“To be honest when Shoaib was fit, he bowled well. He was our best bowler and was the only one who looked like getting wickets,” he stressed. “It was unfortunate that he fell ill and then had back trouble. I would not like to think he has played his last Test because he can be a match-winner.

“The Pakistan team needs Shoaib against Australia if he is fit. And if he bowls against them then I think Pakistan have a great chance,” Lawson added.

On Shoaib’s attitude, the coach said: “I thought he concentrated hard in India and his attitude was terrific. You have to ask him about his Bollywood ambitions. I don’t know much about that but to me he didn’t let us down.”