More than 30 people have been killed after a major terrorist suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar on Friday, just two hours away from where Australia are playing against Pakistan in the first Test of their historic tour.
A hospital official said the attack killed at least 30 and left 56 others wounded and there have also been local reports of a gunfire between security forces and terrorists.
The Sydney Morning Herald are reporting that Cricket Australia are monitoring the developments, with officials in contact with Pakistan's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, adds that the attack 'appears to be an incident between rival Muslim factions'.
Australia are in the midst of their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years, having not visited the country since 1998 due to security concerns.
The ongoing Test against Australia is only the sixth Pakistan have hosted since 2009, when an attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore killed six policeman, two civilians and left several cricketers with minor injuries.
Umpire Ahsan Raza was shot twice in the attack and left with a damaged lung, with the incident prompting teams to stop touring Pakistan.
Sides have been gradually starting to visit the country again, but both New Zealand and England abandoned tours last year, meaning Australia's trip is hugely important for Pakistan cricket.
Security has been very tight for the visitors, with more than 4,000 staff providing protection and roads cordoned off while the team travels in armoured vehicles to and from the ground.
There are also snipers on the roof of the team hotel and bomb dogs and checkpoints checking all vehicles which enter the area.
There has already been a security scare on the tour, with Ashton Agar's partner receiving a death threat warning the all-rounder not to make the trip.
However, the threat was investigated and deemed not credible and there is no suggestion so far that the latest terror attack will have a major effect on the tour.
