CA to decide on India tour: minister

Sydney, Sep 15 (UNI) Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith has put the onus on the cricket board to take a final decision regarding the tour to India starting next month.

New Delhi, the Indian capital, was hit by a series of bomb blasts on Saturday which left over 30 people dead and several others injured. The incident prompted Cricket Australia (CA) to commission an urgent report from its long-term security advisor to review the safety situation in India.

However, all indications are that the tour is on as of now with the Australian squad scheduled to leave for the four-Test tour next Sunday.

''We will do what we do with Cricket Australia whenever they are looking at a difficult tour ... we will provide them with all our up to date travel assessments and advice briefs,'' Smith said.

''And they are also, as I understand it, getting their own independent security advice. In the end it's for Cricket Australia to make a decision, which is how we have dealt with the proposed Pakistan Test tour and the proposed Champions Trophy, which was recently deferred,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the CA's public affairs manager Peter Young said the players, including those currently in India as part of the Australia 'A' team, have been asked to exercise more restraint while moving outside the team hotel.

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