Choppers and checkpoints: Paine admits to player concerns over Pakistan tour

Tim Paine says there may be Australian players uncomfortable with playing cricket in Pakistan, casting doubts over the strength of any touring squad – assuming the proposed series gets the green light from Cricket Australia.

The schedule for what would be Australia’s first tour of Pakistan since 1998 was released on Monday night, but it is far from certain if the matches will be played.

A delegation of officials from CA and the players’ association are due to travel to Pakistan in December to conduct a reconnaissance mission over security and COVID-19 protocols before the mooted tour in March.

CA has said it is excited about the “prospect” of touring Pakistan, but there has been no watertight commitment. Even if the series is rubber-stamped by CA, New Zealand’s sensational withdrawal from white-ball matches on the morning of a game due to concerns over security shows nothing can be taken for granted.

International cricket has returned to Pakistan, but officials there were fuming after England followed NZ in pulling out from touring. Australian players are yet to discuss the issue as a group, but Paine said there would be some with concerns.

“There’ll be some guys who will be happy to take the experts’ advice and others will want to know a bit more,” Paine said on SEN on Tuesday morning. “If we’re totally honest, there might be some people who aren’t comfortable going regardless.

Australia Test captain Tim Paine says there will be players with concerns over touring Pakistan.Credit:Getty

“That’s happened before with tours going to other countries going back forever. Again there are issues that will I’m sure pop up. We’ll discuss it, people get the right answers and feel comfortable, then we’ll get hopefully the best team we can. At the end of the day, it comes down to the individual.”

Paine was part of a World XI team which took part in an exhibition series in Pakistan in 2017. He said he was both unnerved and reassured by the “extraordinary” security measures Pakistan officials arranged, including choppers flying above the team bus.

“The security that we had on that tour was unlike anything that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Paine said. “We had helicopters overhead, roads shut down five kilometres around us, checkpoints like every kilometre into the ground, it was extraordinary.

“The fact you’re seeing it and thinking to yourself it may be necessary can be a bit unnerving, but at the same time to see the planning and execution of it, with literally a couple of choppers above your bus 20-30 metres above your head was comforting but also unnerving at the same time.”

Usman Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad and emigrated to Australia aged five, has spoken of his disappointment over international teams’ attitudes towards his country of birth.

“I feel it’s very easy for players and organisations to say no to Pakistan, because it’s Pakistan,” Khawaja said in September. “I think the same thing would apply, too, if it were Bangladesh. But nobody would say no to India, if they’re in the same situation.

“Money talks, we all know that, and that’s probably a big part of it. They keep proving time and time again through their tournaments that they’re a safe place to play cricket. I think there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go back.”

Australia’s standing as a global cricket citizen has taken a massive hit during the pandemic after the controversial postponement of this year’s Test tour of South Africa due on health grounds. Australia’s men have not played an overseas Test series since the 2019 Ashes.

Pakistan Cricket Board chair Ramiz Raja said after NZ and England withdrew that he was doubtful Australia would honour its obligations.

Paine said Australia were committed to doing the right thing but player safety was paramount.

“It won’t be done in a reckless manner just because we have to put the game first. There’ll be a number of things that will be ticked off from a security point of view to make sure the players are going are totally comfortable with it,” Paine said.

“Once that’s done, absolutely it becomes – we want to be part of growing the game and getting it to countries like Pakistan again and playing our part.”

Paine, turning 37 in December, was tight-lipped if he would be playing through to the tour, saying he was not looking beyond the Ashes.

“I’ll play out this Ashes series, see how I feel, how we go, see what teammates think and then we push on,” Paine said. “If I go to Pakistan, then great, if I don’t then I’ll be happy to go back and play for Tassie for the rest of the year. I’m certainly not swinging one way or the other, I’ll take that as it comes.”

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