Australian cricket legend Mark Taylor has urged all current players to make themselves available for the mooted tour of Pakistan next year.
Cricket Australia recently announced plans to head to Pakistan in March for the first time since Taylor was captain in 1998.
Australia has not toured Pakistan in 24 years due to safety concerns.
READ MORE: Real reason Ricciardo walked out on Renault
READ MORE: Shocking truth amid Peng Shuai saga exposed
READ MORE: Ashes twist as huge decision burns Khawaja
“I think it’s terrific, I really do,” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“I’ve got a certain affinity with Pakistan with the ’98 tour, and also 1994 was my first tour as captain, I captained my first Test match in Karachi in 1994.
“I know how much they love their cricket over there and how devastated the cricket fans would be by the fact they haven’t had a lot of cricket over the last 20 years.
“To see the Australian side… hopefully… return, and everything goes well, I think it’s a great thing for not just Pakistan, but cricket in general.”
The lingering issue is the security concerns that caused New Zealand and England to both withdraw from playing in Pakistan this year.
The Black Caps sensationally cut their tour of Pakistan short and left the country after being alerted to a potential threat. England subsequently cancelled their tour before it had started.
Days after the Australia tour was announced, then-captain Tim Paine said some players may choose not to travel to the country.
“If we’re totally honest, there might be some people who aren’t comfortable going regardless (of the advice),” Paine said.
Taylor wants all players to make themselves available.
“You’ve obviously got to go on the advice. If the advice is the same as a place like India, and players go to India because the IPL’s there and there is money to be made, if the advice is the same you should be going to Pakistan as readily as you go to India,” he said.
“If the advice is different obviously things are different. But you’ve got to try to be consistent.
“Extra money doesn’t buy you safety. Safety is one thing, and it’s separate to how much you can earn.”