SYDNEY: India si, Pakistan non.

That's Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting's take on his team playing in the sub-continent in the context of security concerns in the two countries.

Ponting yesterday defended the decision by Cricket Australia for the team to tour India in spite of recent terrorist bomb attacks, saying it had been cleared by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as also independent security experts.

Different circumstances

"The Department have obviously been in very close contact with Cricket Australia over the last few days," Ponting said.

"As we all know and has been outlined already, these are very different circumstances between India and Pakistan right at the moment and Cricket Australia has made it very clear.

Support system: Ricky Ponting

"As captain of the side and as a player, I am very comfortable to go on the advice of Cricket Australia and the players' association."

Ponting also welcomed Andrew Symonds' decision to continue his cricketing career.

"I actually think there were some really positive signs over the last couple of days with Andrew.

"He's fronted the media and admitted that there's some room for improvement in certain parts of his life," Ponting said.