English cricketers set to return to India
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 04, 2008 00:00
LONDON - After leaving India over security worries in the wake of last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai, the England cricket team is ready to return to India for this month’s Test series. ’India is doing all it can to facilitate the tour,’ says the head of the England Cricket Board
England's cricketers are likely to agree to return to India for this month's Test series after being promised tighter security following the terrorist attacks on Mumbai last week.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were locked in talks over the future of the tour, which was put in doubt by the team's decision to leave India before the end of the one-day internationals following the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.
England held further discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its final decision may not be made for another couple of days while it awaits an up-to-date security report from consultant Reg Dickason.
Dickason arrived yesterday in the southern Indian city of Chennai, where the first Test is due to start on Dec. 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said. Dickason will also visit the northern town of Mohali, the venue of the second Test from Dec. 19, before submitting his report to the ECB.
"A lot of progress has been made and some extremely good and constructive meetings have taken place," ECB chairman Giles Clarke said on Tuesday. "Reg is going to Chennai and we are awaiting his reports.The Board of Control for Cricket in India is doing all it can to facilitate the tour but we must do what we have to do properly and thoroughly."
But for all England's concerns, there is a desire to continue with the tour and help India recover from the Mumbai attacks, especially as Australia continued with the Ashes tour three years ago after the bombings in London. Clarke stressed: "Under no circumstances will we allow our cricket to be dictated to by terrorists. India is an enormous country and there are large parts of it that have never seen terrorist activity. In 2005 the Aussies were sensible and we are doing the same here."
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Games Federation reaffirmed New Delhi as the venue for the next Commonwealth Games, saying yesterday it will work with Indian authorities to ensure a secure and successful event.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were locked in talks over the future of the tour, which was put in doubt by the team's decision to leave India before the end of the one-day internationals following the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.
England held further discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its final decision may not be made for another couple of days while it awaits an up-to-date security report from consultant Reg Dickason.
Dickason arrived yesterday in the southern Indian city of Chennai, where the first Test is due to start on Dec. 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said. Dickason will also visit the northern town of Mohali, the venue of the second Test from Dec. 19, before submitting his report to the ECB.
"A lot of progress has been made and some extremely good and constructive meetings have taken place," ECB chairman Giles Clarke said on Tuesday. "Reg is going to Chennai and we are awaiting his reports.The Board of Control for Cricket in India is doing all it can to facilitate the tour but we must do what we have to do properly and thoroughly."
But for all England's concerns, there is a desire to continue with the tour and help India recover from the Mumbai attacks, especially as Australia continued with the Ashes tour three years ago after the bombings in London. Clarke stressed: "Under no circumstances will we allow our cricket to be dictated to by terrorists. India is an enormous country and there are large parts of it that have never seen terrorist activity. In 2005 the Aussies were sensible and we are doing the same here."
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Games Federation reaffirmed New Delhi as the venue for the next Commonwealth Games, saying yesterday it will work with Indian authorities to ensure a secure and successful event.