Australia star Steve Smith plays down Ashton Agar death threat: We trust our security in Pakistan
India Today
Australia tour of Pakistan: Steve Smith dismissed the social media threat to Ashton Agar, saying the visitors are feeling safe in Rawalpindi which will host the first of the 3 Tests from March 4.
Australia vice-captain Steve Smith on Tuesday played down a death threat on social media to all-rounder Ashton Agar after the visors landed in Pakistan for their first-ever tour of the Asian nation in 24 years. Smith said they trust their security team in Pakistan and that they are feeling safe.
Ashton Agar was warned against travelling to Pakistan days ahead of the first Test, which gets underway from March 4 in Rawalpindi. Earlier in the day, both Cricket Australia and Pakistan Cricket Board dismissed the threat after launching an investigation into it.
A portion of the message reads: "This is a warning for your husband Ashton Agar if he comes to tour against Pakistan he won’t come [back] alive." The message also references Agar’s children even as the cricketer does not have kids.
Australia had landed in Pakistan on Sunday for a multi-format series comprising three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I. This is Australia's first trip to Pakistan since 1998.
"We're aware of social media and the unfortunate events that can occur on platforms," Smith said in Rawalpindi.
"We've got a lot of people working here with us, we trust our security and we're feeling incredibly safe in Pakistan."
Pakistan has struggled to attract visiting sides since a fatal terrorist attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team’s bus in 2009, and Australia pulled out of a tour five years earlier after a suicide blast at a Lahore church. Last year, England and New Zealand pulled out of their tours to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
