Ponting backs Cricket Australia's decision to tour India

Captain Ricky Ponting has defended Cricket Australia's decision to go ahead with India tour despite recent bomb blasts in New Delhi, saying that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and independent security experts have given them green signal.

Terming the decision 'serious', Ponting told The Australian , "Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have obviously been in very close contact with CA over the last few days.

"As we all know and has been outlined already, these are very different circumstances between India and Pakistan right at the moment and the Board has made that very clear."

He added that both as captain and player of the team he is comfortable to visit India on the advice of CA and the Australian Cricketer's Association.

The skipper also welcomed volatile all-rounder Andrew Symonds decision to return to the game as a better person.

"I actually think there were some really positive signs over the last couple of days with Andrew," said Ponting.

"He's fronted the media and admitted that there's some room for improvement in certain parts of his life," he added.