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Australia postpone Pakistan tour

Australia have officially postponed their tour to Pakistan following another bombing in the country which reportedly killed 15 people in Lahore on Tuesday.

Cricket Australia announced the decision following discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council and while CA have not ruled out touring Pakistan at another time, no date has been set for the tour to take place.

Australia were set to arrive in Pakistan on March 29 for a shortened Tour which was scheduled to include two Test matches and five one-day internationals in April.

CA chairman Creagh O'Connor said in a statement on Tuesday: "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 the Pakistan Cricket Board and look forward to undertaking this tour in the near future."

The decision comes at a time when the Australian Government has been warning against non-essential travel to Pakistan, which has been plagued by tensions since the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December.

O'Connor and PCB chairman Dr Nashim Ashraf will meet in Dubai next weekend to discuss a possible future date for the tour to take place with Pakistan against moving the tour to a neutral venue - as was the case in 2002 when Australia played Pakistan in a three Test tour held in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998.

Due to the congested international cricket calendar and the problems in Pakistan, the tour is unlikely to take place in the near future.

"We are obviously very disappointed at this decision," said PCB chairman Dr Ashraf.

"I guess there is not much we could do and sincerely hope that the tour of Australia to Pakistan can materialise at the earliest opportunity."

2:29pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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