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The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) played down security concerns in Pakistan but admitted that September's ICC Champions Trophy would take the chunk out of October's tour.

"Pakistan is no different from anywhere in the world. We don't treat Pakistan as any different from Sri Lanka or England or South Africa," ACB's operations chief Richard Watson told reporters at the National Stadium Friday.

"We don't pick one country from another. Every country is treated the same. Everywhere the Australian team now plays, we send our representatives to do a pre-tour visit," Watson said.

Tim May, the chief executive of the Australian Players Association, said: "This is normal that some places are different from others. "There is no feedback from the ACB and we are here to take the feedback," he said, adding: "We are here for one day and are very impressed with everything that is set."

The three-man ACB delegation arrived Thursday and inspected the facilities at the National Stadium. The visitors will gauge the players facilities, training, food and security of the players - off and on the field - at Faisalabad, Multan, Sheikhupura, Lahore besides Karachi.

New Zealand cancelled their tour in September while the West Indies refused to tour Pakistan but honoured its commitment in Sharjah.

"We are doing our pre-tour check on the basis that the tour will go ahead and once the facilities and security of our players is confirmed, there will be no cause of concern for us," Watson said.

May said Australian captain Steve Waugh, who has vehemently advocated for players security, had no specific thoughts about the tour. "He (Steve Waugh) knows my position as chief executive of the ACA and understands that I would look at all the aspects." Nevertheless, Watson agreed that the ICC Champions Trophy would affect the tour schedule.

"The ICC Champions Trophy has taken the whole chunk out of what would normally be our touring time. We have to arrange with the PCB to fit in our criterion of matches - three Tests and one-dayers.

"If we can fit three Tests and three or five one-dayers, that's what we would do. The schedule is tight but we will do our best," Watson said.

The ICC Champions Trophy is proposed between Sept 13 and 30 at Sri Lanka while the first Ashes Test begins from Nov 7. That practically leaves only 39 days between the two events in which Australia and Pakistan will try to squeeze the series.

When Australia toured Pakistan in 1998, they played three Tests, as many one-dayers and two four-dayers. However, that seems highly unlikely this time.

Expectations that Australia might fulfil one-day commitment in a proposed tri-nation one-day series in late August and prior to ICC Champions Trophy, also took a nose-dive when Watson said he was not aware of such a proposal.

"I am not aware of that at this stage," he replied.

The Pakistan Cricket Board plans a double league tri-series also involving New Zealand.

Watson, unlike the NZC, said his board trusted the PCB and would not demand for additional assurances from the government on players security.

"It is with the PCB to make sure about the team's security and we have got every in them being able to arrange that. Also through the (Australian) High Commission, it's a double check or he can monitor the situation."

© Dawn