Symonds is uncomfortable with the prospect of travelling to Pakistan

Symonds had voiced safety concerns about the visit and said he would not tour if Cricket Australia agreed to travel to the troubled nation.

But it appears that Symonds would be in breach of his contract if the tour went ahead without him.

"The door's ajar, but you know where I stand on it," he said.

"At the time that decision happens I'll have to make a decision that I'll have to stand by. Safety is at a premium, that's all it is really.

"Make as big or little a deal out of it as you like, but to me that's the problem we're faced with, otherwise I'd be saying I'll go there and play cricket."

Skipper Ricky Ponting and paceman Stuart Clark have also voiced reservations about the tour to Pakistan since former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December.

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Cricket Australia is continuing to assess the situation following this week's elections in Pakistan, in which the party of president Pervez Musharraf suffered sweeping losses, and are waiting on further security assessments before committing to the tour.

But Ponting insisted Symonds was contractually obliged to join the squad if the tour was given the all clear.

"Whether it's unfair or not, we've all signed off on the contract," he said.

"There will be lots of safety and security measures put in place and there will be all sorts of security checks done throughout Pakistan over the next few weeks to let us know as a player group whether it is actually safe to tour or not.

"If it is seen to be safe and you don't go, then I think that's where the breach of your contract would be."

The competing nations' cricket boards are in discussion about the proposed tour, which is scheduled to include three Tests and five one-day matches.

It is understood the Pakistan Cricket Board is set to offer a condensed series.

And Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said: "The situation with the 25 players who have signed CA contracts is that they have signed a contract which binds them to play cricket as and when CA schedules cricket.

"To not play cricket as and when CA determines would put a player into a breach of contract situation."