Australia Tour Of Pakistan: I Feel Incredibly Safe - Pat Cummins On Australian Team's Arrival In Pakistan

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins stated that there was tight security in Pakistan on Sunday on their arrival and felt safe in the country. Australia is scheduled to play three Tests, as many ODIs and a solitary T20I match in Pakistan with the tour starting on March 4.

There was a lot of speculations about Australian players’ willingness to travel to Pakistan amid security concerns which forced New Zealand and England teams to pull out of their respective white-ball tours last year. However, Cricket Australia has named a full-strength squad under the leadership of Pat Cummins to play the three Tests.

There’s been lots of security upon arrival: Pat Cummins

The Australian Test skipper shared his experience after landing safely with his teammates and support staff in the Asian nation. Cummins also lauded the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board for their bio-security arrangements in the COVID-19 times.

“I feel incredibly safe and we’ve been really well looked after by the Pakistan Cricket Board. There’s been lots of security upon arrival. We were straight off the plane and straight to the hotel,” Cummins asserted.

 “We’ve got a pretty good set-up and we’ll be confined to the hotel except for games and training. We’ve travelled to places like India where you don’t leave the hotel too much so we are used to it. It’s comforting and we’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals. 

“One of the factors we wanted to be really thorough on before arriving here was not only security but also bio-security. Everyone has done a fantastic job, so we can just concentrate on cricket and really enjoy our first tour here for 24 years,” he added.

Great to be here in Islamabad. Excited for the series! https://t.co/6b8IYSY64y

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) February 27, 2022

We feel lucky to get to come back to Pakistan: Pat Cummins

The Australian team’s visit will end their 24 years of absence from playing in Pakistan as the last time the five-time World Cup winners toured the Asian nation was back in 1998. Cummins said they are fortunate enough to tour Pakistan as many of their former players never got the opportunity to play.

“We feel lucky to get to come back here after a whole generation didn’t get the chance to play any cricket over here. I think it [Pakistan] has slowly had more cricket here. George Bailey, our selector, came and played a couple of games a few years ago,” he said. 

“The Pakistan Super League has also been hugely successful. We’re fortunate that they have come to play us in Australia and it’s great we can return the favour,” he added. 

Pakistan and Australia will commence the three-match Test series on March 4 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Also Read: Australia Tour Of Pakistan 2022: If We Want To Be No. 1 In World, We Have To Show Well On These Subcontinent Tours: Pat Cummins