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SYDNEY. — Cricket Australia says it is closely monitoring the security situation in Zimbabwe after a bomb blast at an election rally but Australia’s tour there next month will proceed at this stage.

Two people died and 49 were wounded when a bomb exploded at an election rally in Bulawayo on Saturday in what is thought to have been an attempt on the life of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Zimbabweans will go to the polls July 30 in their first election since long-serving former President Mugabe was forced to step down from office.

Cricket Australia said yesterday it is closely monitoring developments in Zimbabwe where Australia are due to play a Twenty20 Tri Series with Pakistan and Zimbabwe from July 1 to 8.

“The safety and security of our players and support staff is paramount and, as always, we will take advice from the relevant Australian authorities,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Australia T20 vice-captain Alex Carey is looking forward to ending what has been miserable tour on a high when the Aussies take on England in a one-off T20 in Birmingham today.

The hosts completed a 5-0 series whitewash over Australia for the first time in the ODIs and look in red-hot form in the white-ball formats.

The 26-year-old Carey, who played in the final two ODIs as a specialist batsman, will take over the gloves from ODI skipper Tim Paine and will also act as deputy to T20 captain Aaron Finch. Carey said: “Losing 5-0 is not acceptable for the Australian cricket team.

“We don’t want that result ever again. Our T20 is going really well, we’re second in the world at the moment and we want to go one better. And we come up against (No.1 ranked) Pakistan in a week’s time as well.

“With England playing the cricket they are, they’re going to be red-hot. We’ve got a few new inclusions into the T20 side and I think it’s just really exciting, not to start again, but to go out there and show the T20 cricket we are playing is fantastic.

“If we can back up the tri-series we had in New Zealand and against England, we’ll be fine.” After the ODI series, Paine, who only averaged just more than 7 with the bat, admitted that his position in the 50-over side could be in doubt. Carey is in pole position for a permanent role in the ODI side if the Australia selectors decide to drop Paine. — AFP.