It is easy for
players and organisations to say no to Pakistan, Australian batsman Usman
Khawaja has said, adding that nobody would do the same to India. The 34-year-old
southpaw has become the latest to express displeasure at New Zealand and England
pulling out of their respective tours to the subcontinent over security issues.

Khawaja,
born in Islamabad, said financial factors may have played a part in the
cancellations of the tours, adding that he would have no qualms of touring the
country of his birth. Australia are scheduled to travel to Pakistan after the home
Ashes series this summer.

“I feel
it’s very easy for players and organisations to say no to Pakistan, because
it’s Pakistan. I think the same thing would apply too, if it were Bangladesh.
But nobody would say no to India, if they’re in the same situation,” Khawaja was
quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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“Money
talks, we all know that, and that’s probably a big part of it. They keep
proving time and time again through their tournaments that they’re a safe place
to play cricket. I think there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go back,” the
batsman said.

“There’s a
lot of security. Heavy, heavy security. I’ve heard nothing but reports about
people feeling safe. Even talking to the guys during the PSL about what it’s
like, they would say the same thing to me ‘like 10 years ago, maybe not, but
now 100%.”

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New Zealand
cancelled their tour of Pakistan the same day as the opening ODI in Rawalpindi on
September 17, citing security concerns. Days later, England also withdrew from
their tour to the subcontinent, cancelling both their men’s and women’s series
in the country.

The
decision has drawn a flak from current and former Pakistani players, with Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja saying it was a “wake up call for Pak team
to become the best team in the world for teams to line up to play them without
making excuses.”