Feel incredibly safe PCB take really good care of Aussie players says captain Pat Cummins

Sport

Pat Cummins addressed the security arrangements for Australia’s visiting team in Pakistan and said the players felt incredibly safe after arriving in Islamabad on Sunday. Australia is touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years You play 3 tests, as many ODIs and a one-off T20i in March and April.

Pat Cummins ruled out any concerns about safety in Pakistan, saying they were all looked after very well by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998 when they won the Test series 1-0 while also winning all matches in the limited-over series. Pakistan has struggled to attract visiting teams since a deadly terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team’s bus in 2009, and Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide bombing at a church in Lahore.

Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and South Africa for the past six years, but Australia are the first top-flight team to tour Pakistan for a full-fledged bilateral series.

The tour of Australia in Pakistan is a major boost for the Asian nation as New Zealand and England canceled their scheduled tour last year over security concerns.

“I feel incredibly safe. We were looked after really well by the PCB. Upon arrival there were many security guards. We were right off the plane and straight to the hotel,” Cummins said Sunday.

Cummins said Pakistan is an incredible cricket nation and that the current group are fortunate to tour the Asian nation after 24 years.

“We have a pretty good line-up here and will be confined to the hotel except for games and training. It’s reassuring and we’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals,” Cummins said.

“There’s a lot of things that might be a little different than what we’re used to, but we know they’ve taken care of them, so we can really enjoy ourselves here.”

AUSTRALIA FOCUSES ON GOOD OPERATIONS OVERSEAS: CUMMINS

Australia have traveled to Pakistan after beating England 4-1 in the Ashes series. However, Cummins said visitors will try to be as ruthless as they were back on the streets.

Australia will play key series in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India this year and Cummins said his men are focused on doing well on the subcontinent.

“I really hope so. I was really proud of how we performed back home in Australia during the Ashes summer and now that’s the challenge to continue that and be just as relentless on an overseas tour,” he added.

“Pakistan is an incredible cricket nation. We feel fortunate to be able to come back here after a whole generation hasn’t had the chance to play cricket here.”

Australia will play the first of a 3-Test series in Rawalpindi from March 4th.

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