Melbourne: Australian captain Ricky Ponting shudders to think what might have happened had his team been in Pakistan and said Saturday's blasts in Islamabad have justified his country's decision of opting out of the Champions Trophy, which was eventually postponed.

The Champions Trophy was scheduled to be held in Pakistan from September 12-28 but was postponed after a number of countries, including Australia and South Africa raised security doubts and Saturday's suicide attack only confirmed the worst.

"It's devastating for the people involved," he said adding: "I mean, we'd be talking hypothetically, of us being in the hotel or England or South Africa being in the hotel," Ponting was quoted as saying in The Age prior to the team's departure for the four-match Test series against India.

Ponting felt they did the right thing by acting on the advice of Australia's security experts and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"I think what we've done right the way through is that we just have to listen to the advice from the experts and our Department of Foreign Affairs, and security advice.

"Right way through they have not been happy for us to tour Pakistan, so obviously nothing has changed right now, with the tournament," he said.

"It is an absolute shame that things like this continue to happen in Pakistan because, believe it or not, as players, you want to play in all the conditions around the world," he added.

Press Trust of India

i hope he dies comming under an autorikshaw :@

I knew this would come , and was just waiting for this.

And there it comes. Ponting bhi aik din afghanistan mai beth kar training haasil kar raha ho ga, jab ye ICC say retire ho jaye ga.

Ye goray log hote hi darpok haiN, inkay andar choozay ka dil hota hai. Tabhi ham in sab goray logoN ko tikka kar rakhte hain in europe.

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he would never tlak like that about terrorist activities in european countries, or america..because that would hurt their "sentiments"..but Pakistan, un ki khair hai, aur zaleel karo humain...instead of voicing out some support in this time of greivance for the nation, they are ridiculing us even more. May Allah give us justice insha Allah.

ponting likes pulling his players off

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Is it wrong that I like Spongebob?

lolz i was jsut waiting for this one.

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::::::::::::PASTHUN ROCKS:::::::::
" SIMPLICITY IS THE BEST POLICY"

Even if the tournament took place like it was planned the players and countries would have pulled out after this blasts......In a odd way it was good for Pakistan...but honestly how can you expect countries to tour if stuffs like these keeps on happening at constant intervals?????

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"Once a guy decides to attack the cricketers, we are not tough targets. Cricketers roam about freely on tours, so you have to be aware." MS Dhoni, India captain

Press trust of India???

Excellent...