The findings of the Australian security briefings have been passed on to Pakistan cricket officials.
"We have received a letter from Cricket Australia (CA) and though they reiterated their commitment to supporting Pakistan cricket, they said that security briefings they have received are advising them against touring," Nasim Ashraf, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, told AFP.
Ashraf met Creagh O'Connor, CA chairman, in Dubai earlier this month, in a meeting that failed to produce a breakthrough as Australia continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan.
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"We are making every effort to ensure the tour goes ahead. It would be a big loss to Pakistan cricket if they didn't tour."
Nasim Ashraf, PCB chairman |
Ashraf said the PCB had advised CA to send their security delegation to Pakistan a week after national elections on February 18.
"They (CA) have asked us whether we still want a security delegation sent here and if so when. In response to this, we have told CA that we still firmly believe that the environment for cricket and cricketers is still safe here and they must send their team on February 25," said Ashraf.
Ashraf added that terrorism happened in other countries without affecting cricket.
"We stress that incidents could happen anywhere in the world. They happened in Sri Lanka, they happened in Glasgow last year when we were there for a one-day and bombs went off in England in 2005 when Australia were there," Ashraf.
"We have to make decisions not just on perceptions, but on ground realities. We are making every effort to ensure the tour goes ahead. It would be a big loss to Pakistan cricket if they didn't tour."
No neutral venue
Ashraf said there would be further talks on the tour between the officials of the two boards on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council meeting in Malaysia next week.
"Our officials Shafqat Naghmi and Zakir Khan will meet CA chief executive James Sutherland in Kuala Lumpur during the Under-19 World Cup and discuss arrangements for the security delegation with him."
Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998, and have since met Pakistan in the neutral venues of Sri Lanka and Sharjah in 2002, a year after the 9/11 attacks on the United States sparked security fears in South Asia.
Pakistan have ruled out playing the latest series on neutral venues or relocating it to Australia.
The PCB have also promised personal bodyguards and sniffer dogs to protect Australian players as part of planned stringent security usually reserved for visiting heads of state.
Every Australian player will be provided bodyguards, while roads will be closed to all traffic when the tourists travel to and from the grounds, officials said.