ISLAMABAD – *The Cricket Australia (CA) has said that it has no plans ofsending its team to Pakistan to play against the Green Shirts in threeTests and a T20 match in September and October, which were initiallyscheduled to be held in UAE later this year.*

“The safety and security of Australian players is our number one priority,”a CA spokesman said, quoted *Australian Associated Press*. Australia hasn’tplayed in Pakistan since 1998.

“From the Australia team’s perspective, we are not contemplating moving ourcurrent bilateral-tour arrangements from taking on Pakistan in the MiddleEast, when they host the next series,” he said.

The statement comes after reports that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)Chairman Najam Sethi and COO Subhan Ahmad have held talks with theAustralian and New Zealand officials. The PCB had also requested the boardsto move the T20 match to Pakistan, following in the footsteps of Sri Lankaand the West Indies in the past year.

“The two boards have been requested to play the T20 matches of their seriesin Pakistan to help support the PCB in bringing back international cricketto the country,” an official had said.

Before the Sri Lankan team’s visit in late October, the PCB also hosted theICC World Eleven for a three-match T20 series in Lahore while last monthPakistan played three T20 matches in Karachi against the West Indies.