PTI

Karachi, Feb 16: Throwing its weight behind the Pakistan cricket board (PCB), the BCCI on Friday warned Australia against pulling out of their March-April tour here, saying the move could lead to serious repercussions.

“There will be serious consequences because you can't just pull out a committed tour when the host board is giving you assurances about security and so is the government,” BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told 'geo english' on Friday.

Shukla said cricket Australia (CA) should have faith in the PCB and be assured that its players would be safe here. “...If the host board and government is willing to give assurances you have to accept that you can't just cancel a confirmed ftp tour. The hosts know best about the prevailing security situation,” he said.

Shukla, who toured Pakistan with the Indian team as an official in 2004 and 2006, said even when India was due to tour Pakistan its players were scared of playing here.

“But we decided to accept the assurances of the Pakistan board and government and the players supported us. Once the tour was over they were all very happy at making the tour,” he said.

“Similarly I think the Australians must listen to the arguments of the Pakistan board for whom the tour is important,” he added. A PCB official welcomed Shukla's statement insisting it would have some bearing on the final decision of the Australians.

“Indian board is an influential one because of its position in the cricket world and recently they have managed to get their point across to the Australians on some contentious issues on their ongoing tour,” he said.