Cricketers not under threat: Imran

Australia’s cricket tour of Pakistan should go ahead despite the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and civil unrest, says former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan.

“I don’t think the cricketers are under any threat at all,” Imran said in an interview on radio 3AW and.

Imran, an opposition politician who was locked up for several weeks by Pervez Musharraf’s government, laid the blame for Bhutto’s death on the government.

He said its claim that she died after hitting her head was an unsuccessful attempt to wipe its hands of responsibility.

“Either he (Musharraf) didn’t provide enough security – which was clear – or he was himself involved, through his agencies, in having her bumped off.”

But Imran said the violence in Pakistan was aimed at supporters of the Americans in an “insane war on terror” that created more terrorists each day.

Australia are due to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Pakistan in March and April.

Cricket Australia last week said it would stick with its original plan of reviewing security in Pakistan in March. [Agencies]