Sydney, Feb 15 (UNI) With the Australian tour of Pakistan hanging in balance, skipper Ricky Ponting has expressed his reservation over playing in the country.

''Look, there is no doubt at all in our dressing room that there are some concerns,'' Ponting told the Australian.

''Anybody who would be touring Pakistan at the moment, whether you are a cricketer or just a day-to-day citizen, I think you would have some concerns. I don't think we are different to anybody else.'' Cricket Australia (CA) will send a security inspection team to Pakistan before the series, but even that is not certain to happen.

CA is hopeful of a contest at a neutral venue if Pakistan is not deemed safe and the topic will be discussed when the country's chief executives meet in Kuala Lumpur next week.

In 2002 due to security issues the Australian team declined to tour Pakistan and a similar decision is likely, experts feel.

''We are being kept in the loop daily,'' skipper said. ''Cricket Australia is sending an expert group over there in maybe a week's time, to check things out, so we'll know more about Pakistan then.'' UNI XC CS YA AS1237