Pat Cummins talked up the security arrangements for the visiting Australian team in Pakistan, saying the players are feeling incredibly safe after arriving in Islamabad on Sunday. Australia are touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years as they will play 3 Tests, as many ODIs and a one-off T20i in March and April.
Pat Cummins ruled out any apprehension about security in Pakistan, saying they have all been taken very good care of by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Australia last toured to Pakistan in 1998 when they won the Test series 1-0 while also winning all the matches in the limited-overs series. Pakistan has struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team’s bus in 2009, and Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide blast at a Lahore church.
Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and South Africa over the last six years, but Australia is the first high-profile team that will be touring Pakistan for a full-fledged bilateral series.
Australia touring Pakistan is a major boost for the Asian nation as New Zealand and England had pulled out of their scheduled tour last year, citing security concerns.
“I feel incredibly safe. We’ve been really well looked after by the PCB. Upon arrival, there’s been lots of security. We were straight off the plane and straight to the hotel,” Cummins said on Sunday.
Cummins said Pakistan is an incredible cricketing nation and that the current batch is lucky to tour the Asian nation after 24 years.
“We’ve got a pretty good set-up here and we’ll be confined to the hotel except for games and training. It’s comforting and we’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals,” Cummins said.
