Australia players ready to go, clear in their mind that it's going to be safe in Pakistan: Andrew McDonald
India Today
Australia tour of Pakistan: Australia will play as many as 3 Tests, as many ODIs and a lone T20I across Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore in March-April.
Australia's interim head coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday that the players are clear in their mind that there will be no safety concerns during their tour of Pakistan, thanks to Cricket Australia's pre-tour processes and the information they kept sharing with the touring group.
Days ahead of the departure for their first-ever tour of Pakistan in 24 years, McDonald said there in no lingering doubt about safety in the players' minds. Notably, England and New Zealand canceled their tours of Pakistan last year, citing security concerns but Australia have named a full-strength squad for both Tests and limited-overs series.
Australia will play 3 Tests, as many ODIs and a one-off T20I across Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi from March 4 to April 5.
"I think a lot of those doubts were alleviated by the process that CA (Cric 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 a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
The Australia Test players, led by Pat Cummins, are currently undergoing pre-series training in Melbourne and completing quarantine protocols before they depart to Islamabad.
Meanwhile, McDonald, who was appointed as the interim head coach after Justin Langer's exit, said Pakistan have a lot of firepower at home conditions to ensure a good contest between the two sides.
