Australia will be safe in Pakistan - Akram

Wasim Akram has urged Australia not to pull out of their scheduled tour of Pakistan despite further unrest in the lead-up to next month's elections. Australia have a tentative plan to play three Tests and five ODIs in Pakistan starting in mid-March but the visit will not go ahead unless a Cricket Australia security delegation decides the players will be safe.

Despite further bomb attacks in Pakistan this week, Akram believes Australia's cricketers would have nothing to fear. "I think everything will be fine after the elections," Akram told the Herald Sun. "Things will settle down.

"Australia should play in Pakistan. They will be safe there, and there will be so much security around them. It is not sporting figures who are being targeted."

After the assassination of the former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto in late December some Australia players were concerned about proceeding with the tour. However, Stuart MacGill was one who remained keen to go ahead with the visit, provided the unrest in Pakistan eased after the February 18 elections.