It's understandable if Australian cricketers pull out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament this year, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
A right-wing Hindu party in Mumbai has warned it will prevent Australia's cricketers playing in parts of India due to the spate of violent attacks on Indian students in Australia.
Mr Abbott said any decision about whether to go to play in the IPL, which begins in March, should be up to individual players.
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"That in the end is ultimately a matter for the cricketers," he told reporters in Sydney.
"I want to see international sport flourish, but I accept that sometimes terrorism, violence, makes it difficult and I would certainly hope that the Indian government and everyone else who can help will do what they can to enable international sport to continue."
