SA officials appease Aussies' security concerns

South African cricket officials on Friday played down any security threats during Australia's two-month tour of the former country spanning three Tests and seven one day internationals.

Australian players, always security-conscious - remember the refusal to play in Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup? - had expressed concern over instances of race-related riots last week in Johannesburg, which left two dead and scores of others injured.

Dr Ali Bacher, head of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said security fears were unfounded. "The unrest situations are far removed from the cities where the Australian team is playing," the S'African cricket boss, who was part of the party that welcomed Mark Taylor and the 14-member Aussie squad on arrival in Jo'burg earlier this week, pointed out.

"There are no security problems, they will be completely safe and I'm sure they will enjoy this tour," said Bacher who, ironically, was the skipper when South Africa, in pre-partheid days, waltzed away to a 4-0 Test series win over Australia.

The first Test of the tour, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, begins on February 28. And though both Australia and South Africa are coming off Test series wins - the Aussies defeated West Indies 3-2, while South Africa blanked India 2-0 earlier this year - Bacher refuses to characterise the upcoming series as a struggle for pole position in the cricketing world.

"Australia I would say are the best team in the world at the moment, and there are other teams to look out for, like Pakistan," he said.