Australian test cricketers will face a tough decision if Cricket Australia deems it safe to tour Pakistan in April.
If individual players choose not to tour, they will be breaching their Cricket Australia contract, according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
“It would actually be some sort of breach of a Cricket Australia contract… I think that's how it is set out at the moment, that you are to make yourself available for any international games that are scheduled to be played,” Ponting said.
However, if the players do choose to tour, they may be putting their safety at risk, which has far greater consequences than a breach of contract.
Cricket Australia is taking every possible precaution, with a security delegation going to Pakistan in March to ensure the team’s safety.
There will also be tight security once the Australian team arrive, and the tour has been shortened by 18 days at the request of Cricket Australia.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said the 18 day delay would increase the chances of the tour going ahead.
"This delay will certainly assist us to better assess the post-election situation in Pakistan," Sutherland said.
“The PCB's (Pakistan Cricket Board’s) preparedness to take a flexible approach to this tour is much appreciated".
Despite the heightened security that will be in place should Australia tour, top allrounder Andrew Symonds has raised his concerns.
“I don't think I would go, I just dread to think what would happen if someone got hurt, let alone killed. It's just a situation you'd never want to find yourself in," Symonds said.
Ricky Ponting echoed Symonds’ concerns, but says it is all apart of their contract.
“The rest of us, we've all got our concerns…Whether it's unfair or not, we've all signed off on it,” Ponting said.
The tour is currently scheduled to take place from March 29 to April 27.Chris Hartley, The Cheers News
more Clark fears Oz has given away home ground advantage to India Australian bowler Stuart Clark fears that his team has forfeited a degree of home-ground advantage by allowing India to begin its Test tour in Melbourne and has urged administrators to schedule future series-openers in Brisbane or Perth.
Chris Hartley, 
Cricket
Symonds
Ponting
