Aussie tour on despite Benazir assassination: CA

Melbourne, Dec 28 (UNI) Cricket Australia (CA) has said that the Aussie tour of Pakistan next year is on despite the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto which has sparked widespread unrest in the country.

''It's an appalling tragedy and we only hope that the civil situation in Pakistan can improve,'' CA spokesman Peter Young said.

''But it has no impact over the cricket from a touring point of view.'' However Young said that CA will continue to monitor the situation before coming to a final decision.

''We will make our decision in late January or February, closer to the proposed dates,'' he stated.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998. During their last tour in 2002, which was rescheduled because of security concerns, they played three Tests in the neutral venues of Sharjah and Sri Lanka.

The world Champions are scheduled to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match during their tour to Pakistan next year.

UNI