Kevin Roberts hopeful of Australia touring Pakistan in future amidst players’ safety concerns

Roberts and CA's head of integrity and security Sean Carroll visited Islamabad where they met with the PCB and Ministry of Interior officials to be briefed on the latest security situation in the country. While travelling in armoured cars and escorted by police felt very safe, Roberts stated that he is hopeful of cricket returning to the Asian nation, for the larger interest of the sport. But he remained sceptical and stated that CA would never take any risks with the safety of their players and staff.

"Things are heading in the right direction, but in saying that we were travelling in armoured cars and escorted by police and felt very safe. Certainly, that level of security is still required," he told SEN radio.

"I hope we do [go back], for the sake of world cricket and Australia's important relationship with Pakistan. As I said to Pakistan, we share their desire to see international return, we'll never jeopardise the safety of our people and will continue to take advice from experts on the way. We've got the next couple of years to hopefully plan for a tour in 2022 but we have to set that out carefully rather than rushing into it."

Australia haven't played in Pakistan since 1998 although current Test captain Tim Paine was part of the World XI which travelled for T20Is in 2017 and are not scheduled to visit again until 2022 as per the Future Tours Programme. Things seem a bit clearer now and if Pakistan are able to provide the level of security they are currently talking about, it might open up a new stream for the future tours.

"It's really good that's the cricket world is opening its hearts and minds to the role of Pakistan and looking proactively and what it will take to return international cricket. There are parts of the country that are unfortunately very unsafe but there are parts where I think a number of countries would contemplate playing in the future when Pakistan are ready."

After the Lahore attack on the Pakistan team bus, Pakistan did not host any international cricket match for six years and in 2015, Zimbabwe were the first country to return since when Bangladesh women, a World XI, Sri Lanka and both West Indies' men and women have made brief trips.