The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today expressed concern following a bomb blast outside the New Zealand cricket team's hotel in the Pakistani city of Karachi, which forced the governing body of cricket in New Zealand to abandon its tour of the country.

ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said that the Board would closely monitor the situation in Pakistan ahead of the Australian Test and one-day international squad's tour of the country, starting in late August 2002.

While concerned about the incident, Mr Sutherland said that the ACB's well-tested process of assessing the safety conditions of countries which the Australian team tours will allow for a well-informed decision to be made about the tour, closer to the team's scheduled departure in August.

"The safety of our players and team management is the ACB's highest priority. There is a thorough process in place to ensure we have accurate and timely information as to what is happening in any region that the Australian team visits," Mr Sutherland said.

The ACB's process for assessing overseas safety conditions involves five key steps:

• a pre-tour inspection in conjunction with Australian Cricketers' Association;
• on-going discussions with the home cricket board;
• discussions with the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan;
• discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for expert opinion on any risks posed to Australian players; and
• advice from the ACB's own international security experts.

"With some months to go before we travel to Pakistan the situation is clearly quite fluid," he said.

"Given the time frame it would be inappropriate to lock into a position today. This process allows us to make well informed decisions closer to the time.

"The ACB will continue to receive advice from the relevant experts to help the Board make a proper judgement on the situation in Pakistan.

"I am also conscious of recent events that have affected international cricket in this region, and I will be speaking to the Pakistan Cricket Board as soon as possible about how Australia can help them in managing this situation," he said.

© 2002 Australian Cricket Board

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