Australia batsman Steve Smith stated on Tuesday the gamers felt “extremely secure” on their first tour of Pakistan in nearly 25 years, despite spinner Ashton Agar receiving a death threat via social media just days before the start of the first Test.
Agar was warned against travelling to Pakistan, though the threat was dismissed following an investigation by the boards of Pakistan and Australia and government security agencies.
Cricket Australia said extensive security plans were in place for such social media activity and that the threat was “not considered a risk”.
Smith stated the staff trusted the safety preparations in place.
“We’re conscious of social media and the unlucky occasions that may happen on platforms,” he told reporters ahead of the first Test, which starts on Friday 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.”
Top groups have largely shunned Pakistan since an assault on the Sri Lanka staff bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.
International sides have lately began touring Pakistan once more however in September New Zealand returned dwelling after abruptly abandoning a tour minutes earlier than the opening recreation in Rawalpindi following a authorities safety alert.
England adopted go well with three days later, withdrawing their males’s and girls’s groups from a tour in October citing the “psychological and bodily well-being” of players.
Smith said that he was relishing the challenge of playing in Pakistan.
“It’s great to be back here and playing cricket,” he stated.
“It’s the primary time plenty of us have been right here and we’re excited. We understand how passionate Pakistanis are about cricket.”
Smith sustained a concussion in a match against Sri Lanka in Sydney last month, slamming his head to the ground after falling over the boundary rope but the 32-year-old said he had progressed well.
“It’s the first session back for me facing fast bowling. I’m recovering from the concussion and I’ve faced some side-arm and spinners,” Smith stated.
“The head has progressed rather well the previous couple of days. I’m feeling in area, finished plenty of stuff the place I’ve bought my coronary heart charge as much as quantity and introduced it down … all a part of the protocols of getting again to enjoying.”
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