ECB security expert completes Chennai inspection
Thursday, 4 December 2008
The Indian cricket board says it expects "no problem" in hosting the first Test as scheduled from December 11 in Chennai, where Reg Dickason, the ECB's security adviser, carried out an inspection of the stadium Wednesday.
"We had some security concerns and those have been addressed," Dickason said after the inspection.
England's tour of India, starting next week, and their players' availability for the two-Test series hinges on the security report Dickason will submit to the ECB.
"Dickason will go to Mohali for discussions with Punjab Cricket Association and then make his report to the ECB," N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said.
In Chennai, Dickason had discussions with Srinivasan, who is also president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which manages the MA Chidambaram stadium, and had security-related discussions with Chennai's police commissioner and other officials. He also visited the venue around afternoon and inspected the dressing rooms and the players' sitting areas.
"Based on the discussions held and the clarifications given, the BCCI expects no problem with the first Test being held in Chennai," Srinivasan said.
BCCI sources told Cricinfo that Dickason "had sent a set of conditions before his arrival and during the inspection these things will be discussed". The requirements are believed to involve blanket security from Indian special forces.
Indian newspapers have reported that the ECB had asked the BCCI for a group of 20 commandos to accompany the team at all times along with an emergency evacuation plan in case of a terrorist strike and a security blanket over England's dressing rooms.
"We had some security concerns and those have been addressed," Dickason said after the inspection.
England's tour of India, starting next week, and their players' availability for the two-Test series hinges on the security report Dickason will submit to the ECB.
"Dickason will go to Mohali for discussions with Punjab Cricket Association and then make his report to the ECB," N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said.
In Chennai, Dickason had discussions with Srinivasan, who is also president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which manages the MA Chidambaram stadium, and had security-related discussions with Chennai's police commissioner and other officials. He also visited the venue around afternoon and inspected the dressing rooms and the players' sitting areas.
"Based on the discussions held and the clarifications given, the BCCI expects no problem with the first Test being held in Chennai," Srinivasan said.
BCCI sources told Cricinfo that Dickason "had sent a set of conditions before his arrival and during the inspection these things will be discussed". The requirements are believed to involve blanket security from Indian special forces.
Indian newspapers have reported that the ECB had asked the BCCI for a group of 20 commandos to accompany the team at all times along with an emergency evacuation plan in case of a terrorist strike and a security blanket over England's dressing rooms.