England cricketers to return to India
The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claimed last night that England will train and play a warm-up game at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club, citing sources at the club.
The report claims the team will then fly on to Chennai ahead of the first Test which is due to start on December 11 but had been in doubt after the team returned home following last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
“It is a big honour for Abu Dhabi,” said the source. “It is an extremely safe environment and we want to make sure that the players feel safe too, but we will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight.”
Talks continued yesterday between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK and various security agencies.
England’s one-day squad returned home on Saturday while security reports were assessed on the threat to the team if they return for the two-Test series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have already changed the itinerary to reassure the tourists, with the first Test moved to Chennai from Ahmedabad while the second Test has been moved from Mumbai to Mohali.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain had earlier called on Kevin Pietersen to take his squad back to India.
“Eventually, the game has to go on, just as people in London had to get back on Tubes and buses after the 2005 bomb attacks,” Hussain said.
“As long as the security people say it is as safe as it can be to return and as long as the Indian people want the tour to continue, England can make a statement by going back.”
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