LAHORE, Sept 15: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, while admitting that Cricket Australia’s decision of touring India despite Delhi bomb blasts were ‘double standards, said it made Pakistan’s case stronger in persuading the Aussies for a series in Pakistan.

Talking to reporters, the COO said he believed Australia would tour India at all cost, despite the fear of security reason, because a hefty amount was involved. “Now we will see if Australia will come to Pakistan next year to play the series which was postponed till 2009 due to their security fears,” he said.

Agencies add: “Pakistan is as safe a country as India and we had even promised state level security for the Australians and other teams. This incident only shows the double standards of Australian cricket,” Naghmi fumed.

Naghmi said the PCB was disappointed with the statement of the ACA as even the ICC and other countries had acknowledged the great efforts made by Pakistan to provide a safe environment for the Champions Trophy.

“Terrorist attacks can take place anywhere we have said constantly. No country is safer than the other and this point was highlighted after the unfortunate and sad incident in Delhi,” he said.

“We find it hard to comprehend that when Australian cricketers can tour a country which has had a succession of bomb attacks what is so different about coming to Pakistan,” Naghmi added.