Cricket: Backing for Symonds' stand on Pakistan tour.

AUSTRALIA all-rounder AndrewSymonds should not be punished if he decides to skip the tour of Pakistan, according to players' union leader Paul Marsh.

Symonds has spoken of his concern at going to a country experiencing civil unrest following the assassination of former primer minister Benazir Bhutto.

A Cricket Australia security team is due to visit the region in February but, even if the tour does go ahead, Symonds will still be able to opt out, said Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association.

Marsh believes each player is legally entitled to make an individual decision about touring Pakistan without breaching his contract.

"We want to reach a collective decision but the players obviously have that ultimate right," he said.

"We would rather it's a one-in, all-in either way, but if a player comes to us and says that if the tour was to proceed they don't want to go, then we would support that and we believe the players are entitled to do that."

TODAY (08.30 unless stated) SECOND TEST MATCH (day 1 of 5) Cape Town: South Africa v West Indies SECOND TEST MATCH (day 2 of 5) Sydney: Australia v India (23.30).