The ACB is monitoring player safety for the tour, commencing on September 23, through Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs.

The ACB contacted foreign affairs officials to assess safety in Pakistan. "We've sent a letter off to foreign affairs although we had been in touch with them last week before the bombings when the Americans began pulling their people out," team manager Steve Bernard said Monday.

"Right now things are in train and we will be guided by any information from foreign affairs, the high Commission, the Pakistani board and so on. That's our normal procedure."The current advice was to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. Bernard said it was unlikely the Pakistan tour would be called off but that the safety of the players and team management was always paramount.

Don't worry, says PCB

KARACHI: The PakistanCricket Board on Monday said the Australian cricket team should not worry about security during their forthcoming visit to Pakistan following the US missile strikes in Afghanistan.

"The tension is between America and Afghanistan. Pakistan is not involved in it and there is complete peace," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Rafi Naseem said. "We expect the tension will defuse in a couple of weeks and the Australian players should go ahead with the tour," he added.