Have the ACB made the right decision?

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Representatives of the Australian Cricket Board said they had assessed safety and security in Pakistan and decided the environment was not right for a tour.

The ACB says it wants the Test series to go ahead, but at an alternative venue.

The triangular one-day series has already been moved to Kenya, New Zealand pulled out of its tour in May while the West Indies' planned tour was played on neutral territory in Sharjah.

Were Australia right to cancel? And where should the Tests be played?

Australians are right in cancelling the tour. Calling Australians cowards is just hypocrisy. How many of us would go to Pakistan under the present circumstances?
Kode, India

Australia is not the only country that will not go to Pakistan. New Zealand left halfway through a series, and for good reasons, and the West Indies refused to play there as well.

So why pick on Australia when they are more than happy to play the Test series in a neutral country where it would be safe and the teams could concentrate on the cricket?
Jason, Australia

Comparing the IRA to the terrorists in Pakistan is ridiculous. The IRA would never target an Aussie team. However, Pakistani terrorists would target Australia as Australian troops fought in Afganistan in the "war on terror". The incident with the Kiwis a couple of months ago was the last straw.
Simon, Ireland

The Australians are not diplomats or politicians, they are sportsmen. And no-one has any right to tell them not to go somewhere that is cleary unstable. The Aussies are a champion side and have every reason to fear being targeted.

And they shouldn't be made pawns for anyone's cause, and certainly not for a undeserving cash-strapped PCB after failing to protect the NZ team.
Wilson, New Zealand

Absolutely ridiculous - did any country in any sport ever boycott the UK in the 70s and 80s when there was a real threat from the IRA? A cricket tour to the sub-continent is always hard, the Aussies have taken the easy route out even though the President of Pakistan assured them of security arrangements.

I have lost a lot of respect for the best cricket team in the world. All the Asian Test teams should now boycott Australia, that would send a clear message to other countries who may contemplate similar action.
Suhail, UK

Of course Australia made the right decision. As for the government 'assurances' regarding player safety, well Pakistan said that they would look after the New Zealand team as well, and look how close they came to being killed or injured.
David H, UK

The Aussie decision is pure capitulation to the terrorists. If the Aussies fear the terrorists then they shouldn't travel to London, the US, Sri Lanka or many other countries. After today's bombing in Spain, should Brits stop going there? There's no such thing as 100% security.
Mohammed A, UK

People calling Aussies cowards are ignorant and immature. The match will take place in a neutral country. In a country where the president's own safety and security is not gauranteed, it would be absolutely stupid to go ahead with a tour there. It's all about safety.
Raj, UK

This is a typical knee-jerk reaction from Australia. World events show that it is impossible to provide absolute 'guarantees' of safety. If no touring sides will play in countries facing possible terrorist attacks then there would be no touring at all.

Tours of America would certainly be cancelled on this basis - the last 12 months have seen greater loss of life through terrorist action in the US than in Pakistan. Sport is meant to transcend the boundaries of politics and help show the world we can stand together.
David, UK

Terrorism has no rules and no regard for life, whether it be visitors or the indiginous population. The Australian authorities had no choice and made the correct decision. The team could easily become a symbol and therefore, a target.

England would have made the same sensible decision. What the Australian Cricket Board is saying is that they care more about their players than the short-term monetary gains.
Mark, USA

It's not so much about the security concern, it's the fighting spirit. Australians lack fighting spirit. The spirit of the game lies not only in playing a fighting game, but also maintaining a fighting spirit for playing it.
Sarab, India

A fantastic decision, it is absolutely ridiculous to tour after what happened to the Kiwis. Ask Stephen Fleming (NZ Captain) if he wants to go back to Pakistan. I am sure the answer would be a very strong, no.
Alan, Australia

Yes, the Australians are right. It is time sport fought back and made politicians deal with the problem of terrorists. Neutral venues are also an option.
Nigel Allsopp, Canada

Very correct decision. One cannot fault the Aussies for deciding not to play in a nest of vipers.
Laksh Nukala, USA

President Musharraf gave assurances to his Australian counterpart on the security issue. This cancellation shows no respect to that at all. Although I understand Australian concerns, Pakistanis have the right to boycott the Australian team now.
Sharjeel, UK

Australia's move is not surprising and not entirely unexpected. Having cancelled a similar tour in Zimbabwe, it confirms that they are always 'running away from shadows'.
Fadzayi Guri, Zimbabwe

The Aussies are absolutely right. Terrorist attacks aren't something they have any control over, but I have no sympathy for the PCB going bust.
Suresh Jeganathan, UK

Whilst I appreciate Australian concerns over touring Pakistan, it is a 'slap in the face' to the Pakistani Authorities for them to decline the tour on security grounds. No touring side has ever been injured by terrorist attacks in Pakistan! This surely shows that the Australian viewpoint is groundless. What next? Teams cancelling tours to England for fear of IRA terrorism?
Tair, UK

A lack of bottle is being shown by the Aussies here. The situation is no different as to when England toured there the other winter.
Andy Shanks, Yorkshire

Any country involved in any kind of terrorism should be excluded from the international sporting community until they can guarantee the safety of all players, officials and spectators. If it bankrupts them, then so be it.
R Hanney, UK

With all the recent troubles it seems too much of a risk and I think it's only sensible to cancel the Tests. No country should be allowed to host any sporting events if security of fans and players cannot be 100% guaranteed!
Debbie Shaw, Riddlesdown, England

Australia were right to cancel the tour but I feel for Pakistan, it's a shame that there can't be any cricket there. The Indian government should now soften its stance and resume cricketing relations with Pakistan for the sake of the game and its follwers. Our government should allow the BCCI to accomodate and host Pakistan and share the profits with them. There can be no cricket without Pakistan.
Sachin, India

Too right. After what happened to the New Zealand team, I wouldn't set foot in Pakistan if you paid me.
Rick, UK

Well, if the Pakistanis got their security together then they might have had a tour on.
Harps, Australia

Are the Aussies running scared of being beaten by the best Test and one day side in the world?
Sheraz, UK

I think Australia are right to pull out of the Tests - as would any country's sporting team - under circumstances like this. Sports players have no need to put themselves at personal risk for their sport - and all of the team have families to consider.

Any team like this is very high profile and would be a logical target for an attack. There is no reason why the matches cannot be played on neutral territory.
Jane , Ireland