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SYDNEY, Friday (AFP) - Australia's chances of touring Pakistan next year have improved with news that the country is safe to play international cricket again.

Pakistan Cricket Board boss General Tauqir Zia has given the green light to a series against the West Indies, who have agreed to tour in February.

Pakistan's international schedule has been hit for six since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent US response on neighbouring Afghanistan.

New Zealand cancelled their planned tour of Pakistan mid-September, saying they feared for the safety of their players, while a Pakistani suggestion for a short one-day series against Sri Lanka failed to materialise.

Neutral venues in Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco had been suggested as venues for Australia's series next September, but the West Indies' six-week trip are expected to reveal whether safety concerns are legitimate.

"We've agreed to go and nothing has changed in that regard," said a spokesman for the Australian Cricket Board Friday.

"Any speculation to the contrary is wrong."

Zia said in a statement: "As far as I'm concerned the West Indies tour is already on, they haven't said no, they said 'we are coming,'

"There is no problem and I'm going to insist to the International Cricket Council that Pakistan is all right and that people should come and play here."

Pakistan have played only one Test since returning from their tour of England in June this year, beating Bangladesh by an innings at Multan in late August.

They also featured in a tri-nations series one-day tournament in Sharjah in October.

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