Cricket: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has expressed his disappointment over Australia's tour pullout and hopes the series can be rescheduled soon to provide the home team with some much-needed international action.
"It is very disappointing not to have the best team playing this series, but it is better that the series has been postponed rather than cancelled," former Australia fast bowler Lawson told reporters today.
Security concerns forced Australia to postpone their tour of Pakistan which was to start on March 29th. The two board chiefs are scheduled to meet in Dubai next week to discuss the future of the tour.
Lawson hoped they would be able to find a proper window in the near future.
"I hope this series is not postponed for long because Pakistan is in dire need of playing international cricket and more test matches," he said.
Lawson was not entirely surprised by the postponement after bomb blasts in Lahore this morning claimed at least 20 lives.
"Cricket Australia is right in carefully considering the security situation before the tour," he said. "But it is a situation no one wants to be in.
"I just hope cricket is not damaged in Pakistan because of this postponement."
A PCB official was hopeful the tour would be salvaged at the Dubai meeting.
"We will make a sincere effort to finalise new dates soon. We will discuss all possible options," he said.
Australia have not played in Pakistan since 1998 and their 2002 series was played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates after they refused to tour over safety concerns of their players.