Steve Smith puts the Ashton Agar death threat down to “unfortunate events” that come with social media and says the Australian men’s cricket team are “feeling incredibly safe” in Pakistan.
A death threat was made to Agar in an Instagram message sent to his wife early on Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.
Little international cricket has been played in Pakistan in recent years because of a terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s men’s team on a 2009 tour.
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The Agar threat, believed to have come from India, was investigated by Cricket Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board and government security agencies.
“There are extensive security plans in place for this type of social media activity, which, in this case, is not considered a risk,” a Cricket Australia statement said.
Smith was asked about the death threat in a press conference ahead of the first Test, set to begin on Friday.
“We’re aware of social media and the unfortunate events that can occur on platforms across social media,” Smith told reporters.
“We’ve got a lot of people here working with us, we trust our security and everyone involved and we’re feeling incredibly safe here in Pakistan.
“We’ll be guided by our security and people that we trust around us.”
About 4000 police and military personnel are surrounding the team hotel in Islamabad and will do the same at the venue of the first Test in Rawalpandi.
Smith hasn’t played an official cricket match since suffering a concussion in a freakish fielding effort in a T20 match against Sri Lanka in February, but he expects to be fit for the first Test of the Pakistan series.
The former Test captain must first be cleared fit in a net session with Australia’s fast bowlers.
“The head’s progressed really well in the last few days, so I’m feeling in a good space,” Smith said.
Australia played a three-Test series and three one-dayers when they last toured Pakistan in 1998.
Mark Taylor equalled Sir Donald Bradman‘s then national record score of 334 in a Test in Peshawar.
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