Malik urges Oz to visit Pak

Lahore, Sep 17 (UNI) With Australia deciding to go ahead with their India tour despite the serial blasts in New Delhi last week, Shoaib Malik urged the world champions to visit Pakistan also.

The Pakistan captain also felt that Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to go ahead with the tour amounted to double standards since they had refused to come here for a proposed Test series earlier this year. The Australian players were also reluctant to participate in the Champions Trophy which prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to postpone the prestigious tournament to October next year.

''I hope Australia will not hesitate on touring to Pakistan after they have rightly decided to tour India despite bombings.

This proves that Australia have believed India's words on security.

The Australians should also believe us, as we have also promised heads-of-state like security for them,'' Malik told reporters.

''They should not adopt a double standard. We feel like that, so they must also take our words and that our people will take care of them when they tour here,'' he added.

With Pakistan yet to play a Test this year, Malik said matches against a top side like Australia will help the cause of the game in the country.

''When newcomers watch Australian players, they get induced and get to learn from watching them. If they tour us it will be a huge development of the game in Pakistan,'' he remarked.

The 26-year-old was also of the view that financial considerations were behind the Australian decision to visit India.

''Playing in India means huge money for teams, so there is an influence of money as well. But money is not everything in cricket.

So we hope that Australia will fulfill their commitment of touring Pakistan next year,'' he hoped.

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