By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Melbourne : Ending months of uncertainty, the Australian and Pakistani cricket boards have announced in a joint statement that the Australia cricket team’s tour to Pakistan scheduled for March-April has been postponed.
Commenting on the decision, Cricket Australia (CA) Chairman Creagh O’Connor told reporters here: “We are very sorry that the tour could not take place at this time. This was a difficult decision based on independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan at the moment. We wish no loss to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future.”
PCB Chairman Asim Ashraf said: “We are obviously very disappointed at this decision. I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour can materialise at the earliest opportunity.”
The ICC Future Tours Programme is complex and changes require extensive consultation with other member boards with which Australia and Pakistan have existing commitments.
The chairmen of the two boards will meet in Dubai next weekend to discuss possible dates for the deferred tour.