Pakistan urges Australia to tour

Pakistan is urging Cricket Australia to do everything it can to ensure its tour to the troubled nation goes ahead.

Australia are due to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Pakistan in March and April.

Cricket Australia last week said it would stick with its original plan of reviewing security in Pakistan in March despite widespread violence following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner to Australia Tanveer Akhtar Khaskheli says Cricket Australia should do all it can to ensure the tour happens.

“We hope and we wish that they come and visit because people in Pakistan love cricket and they’ll be more than happy to welcome the Cricket Australia,” he told the Nine Network.

Mr Khaskheli said he was confident Pakistan would soon be safe enough to host the team.

“We wish and hope things settle down quickly.

“As soon as the elections happen and new government is formed things will be business as usual.”

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has declared he will withdraw from the Pakistan tour if not satisfied it’s safe.

Australia has not played a Test in Pakistan since 1998 with their three Test tour in 2002 moved to Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates because of security issues.

Cricket Australia risks a minimum $US2 million ($A2.28 million) fine if it refuses to tour and the ICC rules the series should go ahead.