KARACHI, March 6: Australia are likely to decide in the next few days whether to proceed with this month’s tour of Pakistan, both parties said on Thursday.

“The Australian authorities have been briefed by their foreign ministry on the (security) situation in Pakistan,” Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

“I think we should know in one or two days’ time. The indications are they (Cricket Australia) will decide after they have a board meeting.”

Peter Young, Cricket Australia’s public relations manager, told a private TV channel that the decision might take a little longer than 48 hours.

“We will be talking to our board in the next few days,” said Young. “We would like to make a final decision soon as the tour is due to start on March 29.”

The world’s top-ranked team have already cut the tour back to two Tests and four one-dayers from the original plan for three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 game because of security concerns.

Australia have indicated they would like to play the series at a neutral venue rather than cancel the tour but Naghmi dismissed the idea.

“This option is out for us,” he said. “You don’t get spectators from either side at neutral venues and a series is not just played for television, the purpose is to get your own people into the ground.”

On Tuesday, the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) cancelled their planned inspection of Pakistan.

The ACA wanted to send a delegate, Paul Marsh, to determine whether it was safe enough for the players to proceed with the tour. But the ACA deemed it too dangerous for Marsh to travel to Pakistan following a spate of violence including two suicide bombings.

The PCB has promised to provide added security for the Australian players in an attempt to save the tour.

Meanwhile, a decision on whether Australia take the unlikely step of touring Pakistan could be made as early as next week following a meeting with the government officials in Canberra on Wednesday.

Representatives from CA, the ACA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade held talks on the security situation in the country, which was hit by bomb blasts in Lahore on Tuesday.

“It was a comprehensive briefing that adds greatly to the knowledge we and the ACA hold,” Young told the Age. “It is likely we will be forming a view on this within the next week.”

An independent security report needs to be made before Australia can choose whether to cancel the trip, and the PCB is believed to be softening its stance on switching the contest to a neutral venue.

The Australian has reported that the Australian consulates in Karachi and Lahore, which are cities on the series itinerary, have been closed.—Agencies