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Pakistan cricket chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said Friday that he would be consulting his 'lieutenants' to decide on a future course of action after Australia cancelled this October's three-Test tour here because of security fears.

"If we want cricket to continue we need to take risks and face the challenges," he said soon after being intimated by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) of their decision.

Australia had been thinking deep and hard whether or not to tour Pakistan after a series of bomb blasts in recent months targeting foreigners left the security situation in the country open to question.

Not even a phone call from President General Pervez Musharraf to Prime Minister John Howard assuring complete security to the touring cricketers could convince the Australians.

"We are not against any board or nation, this is a decision made by their Foreign Office which feels that it is not safe to play in Pakistan. It is their perception to which I may not agree. I do not know what my reaction would have been if I was in their shoes." But Tauqir pointed out that terrorism was a global problem and not playing cricket because of it means encouraging the terrorists. "We played in India in 1999 despite threats from Hindu extremists and still had a wonderful tour. Cricket should go on and I want Australia to come but then again I cannot force them."

Tauqir said that implementing an Asian Cricket Council decision of boycotting the countries that back out of their commitments was the last option available to the PCB. "I am not threatening any one but we have the backing of Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh cricket boards."

Things have not been going right for the PCB for some months now, with first the West Indies refusing to tour for a three-Test competition citing players' safety earlier this year. As a result of this the "home series" had to be reluctantly played in Sharjah in March.

Another blow to Pakistan cricket was dealt by a suicide bomber in May who rammed his car laden with explosives into a bus just outside the hotel in Karachi where the touring New Zealand team was staying killing 14, most of them French nationals and injuring several others. The incident happened on the morning of the second Test and prompted the Kiwis to abort the tour.

With the option of playing the series at a neutral venue still available, Tauqir said a decision in this regard would be made in consultation with president Musharraf.

"We will also be knocking the doors of the ICC (International Cricket Council) to seek justice because we are being made to suffer. Sports has gone on despite terrorism, the 1972 Munich Olympiad is just one example."

Tauqir disclosed that the ACB would like to compensate Pakistan, may be next year, by playing a series also involving India. "I spoke to Bob Merriman (ACB chief) this morning and he told me that they would compensate us by organising a triangular, but again this is just a proposal."

Later PCB released a letter by it's president Bob Merriman to its Pakistani counterpart Lt Gen Tauqir Zia stating the reasons for withdrawal. Excerpts of the letter are produced below: "Further to our telephone conversation this morning I can only repeat that the decision taken by my colleagues at the ACB was predominately based on the reports that we received from the Australian Government through the Foreign Affairs department and the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan.

"As I also indicated to you, the Directors of the ACB resolved to try and assist Pakistan cricket by authorising Mr. Sutherland with you and the Board of Control for Cricket in India together with ICC to see if we can play a series of one day matches next winter (June, July, August 2003) in a suitable venue (e.g. Morocco) in a genuine endeavour to assist the PCB financially given the cancellation of the three tours."

"I wish to strongly emphasise that the ACB directors wish to play the series and sincerely hope that you and your Board and your President can see fit to play this series at an alternative venue."

"General, I must say we have the highest respect for Pakistan cricket and we would hope that we can resolve to play the Test matches and the additional matches in the spirit of good fellowship and a desire to make cricket the winner".

© Dawn