Australia to redo security checks in Pakistan after deadly Peshawar Mosque bombing.
Pakistan, in the stage of world cricket as a host, has been sidelined for almost a decade or two owing to its ill practices when it comes to handling terror and its related elements. The incidents with the New Zealand team in 2002 and with the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 are enough to indicate how crucial it is to undergo critical security checks in Pakistan, before touring it.
The Asian country was sidelined by the major cricket playing nation for a decade after Pakistan’s name became synonymous with terror. However, it seems to be changing now as countries plan to visit Pakistan for some series.
Currently, Australia is on the tour of Pakistan for three Test matches, as many ODI games and a solitary T20I fixture. The Aussies are on their historic tour of Pakistan after a long haul of 24-years.
However, the ghost of the past revisited Pakistan on March 4 with the incident of bombing in Peshawar. On day 1 of the opening test between Pakistan and Australia, a suicide bomb attack took place in the mosque in Peshawar which recorded at least 30 casualties along with several injuries.
As per the reports, more than 150 people were inside the mosque when the bomb was detonated by a gunman.
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The incident has caused a serious threat to Australia’s cricket team as they are on a month-long tour of Pakistan. It’s important to note that, earlier, owing to several security concerns, teams like New Zealand and England pulled out of their tour of Pakistan.
In fact, New Zealand and Pakistan were just inches away from the toss of their first match when the touring party decided to call off the visit and return back home.
Meanwhile, the Australian team is constantly in the touch with the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Pakistan and Australia aren’t scheduled to travel to Peshawar, which is 188 kilometres from Rawalpindi, for any cricket match fixture.
A report in Sydney Morning Herald stated that there are no signs that the Peshawar blast will affect the ongoing tour adversely.
However, the cricket board will monitor the situation closely until they wrap up the historic tour. All the touring cricketers have been provided with presidential-style security for the entire tour of Pakistan.
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