Aussie Players Are Ready To Go And They Are Clear In Their Mind - Andrew McDonald On Security Concern For Pakistan Tour

Australian team’s interim head coach Andrew McDonald revealed that the players have an option to opt out of the Pakistan tour but for now, they are completely convinced that it’s safe to tour.

The two teams will be playing 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and one T20I in March and April. It will be their first tour in a long while. The security clearances have been given and it’s up to the players if they want to go ahead with the tour.

“I think a lot of those doubts were alleviated by the process that CA (Cricket Australia) went through directly talking about security and no doubt the pandemic with COVID… What does that all look like? So yeah, there was a lot of information flowing leading into this series, and I think that information has cleared the thoughts of the players and you know they do have an option not to tour.”

“They’re jumping on the plane. So that to me says they’re ready to go and they are clear in their mind, that it’s going to be safe and it’s an exciting tour and they’re getting their heads around the cricket as opposed to the other things that potentially can pop into their mind,” McDonald said in the press conference before the departure.

“They got some exciting players” – Andrew McDonald

McDonald specifically named Shaheen Afridi, who he feels is improving with each passing year. Facing Pakistan in Pakistan is a difficult task and something that hasn’t happened much in the last few years. Therefore, the uncertainty factor will also play a role.

“Yeah, well, it’s difficult to tell in terms of Pakistan and Pakistan is different to Pakistan in the UAE. You know, they’ve got some great options, spin bowling options that, you know, fastball.”

“Shaheen Shah Afridi, you know, keeps getting better every year. Left-arm pace, swings the ball, can reverse swing the ball as well, so they got some exciting players,” McDonald added.

The series will get underway with the first Test on March 4 in Rawalpindi.

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