The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Australia setting double standards’

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‘Australia setting double standards’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accused Cricket Australia (CA) of double standards on Tuesday over its decision to proceed with its tour of India despite the recent bombings in New Delhi.

Australia, which was instrumental in the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s decision to postpone the Champions Trophy due to security fears, has announced it will go ahead with a four-Test tour of India despite the bombings that killed 20 people and injured about 100 in the Indian capital.

“It shows their double standards,” the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Shafqat Naghmi, said. “When we promised them foolproof security for the Champions Trophy, they should have expressed confidence in us like they did in the case of India.”

The CA Spokesman, Peter Young, said the Australian cricket team’s decision to travel to India “remains appropriate” after reviewing security advice from its own expert and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Australia refused to make a scheduled tour of Pakistan earlier this year on security grounds and has postponed its visit until March 2009, when it will play five limited-overs internationals before returning for a three-Test series in 2010.

Australia last toured Pakistan in 1997-98, and Naghmi said CA is “fast running out of excuses” not to come. — Agencies

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