The Australian cricket team has a tour to Pakistan scheduled for next month in March. The series will kick-start on the 3rd of March with the first Test match between the teams.
But before that, Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood believes that players will be worried about their security on this tour and many big players may even withdraw their names from the series. The 31-year-old fast bowler said that if this happens then he will not be surprised at all.
Cricket Australia (CA) has decided to finally visit Pakistan, in what will be after 24 years. Before this, the last time Australia visited Pakistan was in the year 1998, when former veteran batsman Mark Taylor was the captain of the Australian side.
Hazlewood told cricket.com.au that even though there’s lots of thing in place and work is going on behind the scenes, there is still some concerns.
“Lot’s of things are in place, work is going on in the background, the trust is quite from the players, but will certainly be some concerns from the players and I will not be surprised if some players refuse to go to Pakistan” said Josh Hazlewood.
He he further added that, “It’s very fair, People will talk to their families and then come up with answer. Everyone will respect that.”
Let us also tell you that Pakistan Cricket Board has been working hard to make sure that International cricket returns to Pakistan.
Last year South Africa, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka visited the country and successfully completed the series.
But on the other hand, after reaching Pakistan, the New Zealand team refused to play there just before the start of the ODI series and left the tour and returned back home. After this, England also cancelled its pre-scheduled tour. The PCB has high hopes to safe and securely complete the Australia series.
Pakistan vs Australia series will begin with the 1st Test match on the 3rd of March in Karachi. The other 2 Test matches will be played between 12th till 16th March and 21st till 25th March in Rawalpindi and Lahore respectively.
Following that, both the teams will also play 3 ODIs and 1 T20I. The ODIs will be played on the 29th March, 31st March and 2nd April in Lahore all together, while the only T20I will also be played in Lahore on the 5th of April.