SYDNEY: Terming Saturday's suicide bomb attack in Islamabad an "absolute shame", Australian captain Ricky Ponting has justified his team's decision to opt out of the now-postponed Champions Trophy in Pakistan and his team's scheduled tour of that country earlier.

Speaking to the media before the team's departure for Mumbai last night, Ponting said: "It's devastating for the people in Pakistan.

"I mean, we would be talking hypothetically is us (sic) being in the (Marriott) hotel or England or South Africa being in the hotel..."

Vindicated: Commenting on the Pakistan blasts, Australian captain Ricky Ponting said, "Unfortunately, at this moment, there's no way we could be touring Pakistan."

Had the Champions Trophy been played according to schedule, the England and South African teams would have been staying at the hotel and playing in Rawalpindi on the day of the blast.

The attack, in which more than 60 people reportedly died and 200 were injured, is being described as one of the biggest by terrorists in Pakistan's history.

"I think what we've done, and what we've done the right way through, is that we just have to listen to the advice from the experts and our department of Foreign Affairs. Security advice right through has been (that) they have not been happy for us to tour Pakistan, so obviously nothing has changed right now," Ponting said.

Unfortunate

"It's an absolute shame that things like this continue to happen in Pakistan, because, believe it or not, as players you want to travel all around the world and play in all the countries around the world, but unfortunately right at this moment, there's no way we could be touring Pakistan."

Commenting on the blasts, a spokesman for Cricket Australia said yesterday: "Our reaction is that it's terribly sad and tragic news."

Australia were scheduled to play in Pakistan this week in the Champions Trophy, which was postponed after several countries, including Australia and South Africa, pulled out due to security concerns.

Australia have decided to go ahead with their tour of India, despite the recent New Delhi bomb blasts in New Delhi, which claimed 23 lives.

The team will be given regular security updates during the tour.

"It's vital with me, as captain, that the players be kept in the loop," Ponting said.