India decision hangs over England
Monday, 1 December 2008
England's cricketers are considering whether to return to India for two Tests after a security assessment has been completed, BBC reports.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has said players would not be forced to go.
Spinner Graeme Swann, battling to secure a place in the side, told the BBC he had a "tricky" decision to make, despite not being 100 per cent happy to return.
ECB managing director Hugh Morris could not confirm reports of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison refusing to travel.
He told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "I've not had confirmation from either Andy or Steve. What we are doing is pulling the (security) reports together over the next 24 to 48 hours and we will be putting that information to the players and their representatives."
The security report is due within the next two days, conducted on the back of the terror attacks in Mumbai.
With the last two one-dayers between India and England cancelled, the two-Test series - due to begin on 11 December - depends on the report's outcome.
Morris said the team would only go back to India if their safety could be guaranteed, but it remained unclear as to which players a returning England team would comprise of.
Swann told BBC Five Live's Sportweek programme it would be a shame if the series did not go ahead, but added that when watching the "harrowing scenes" in Mumbai last week, cricket was the last thing on his mind.
"I wouldn't be 100% happy going back," he said. "If the report says 'look guys we're safe, we can go out there, we can do some good playing cricket', then I'd go.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board has said players would not be forced to go.
Spinner Graeme Swann, battling to secure a place in the side, told the BBC he had a "tricky" decision to make, despite not being 100 per cent happy to return.
ECB managing director Hugh Morris could not confirm reports of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison refusing to travel.
He told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "I've not had confirmation from either Andy or Steve. What we are doing is pulling the (security) reports together over the next 24 to 48 hours and we will be putting that information to the players and their representatives."
The security report is due within the next two days, conducted on the back of the terror attacks in Mumbai.
With the last two one-dayers between India and England cancelled, the two-Test series - due to begin on 11 December - depends on the report's outcome.
Morris said the team would only go back to India if their safety could be guaranteed, but it remained unclear as to which players a returning England team would comprise of.
Swann told BBC Five Live's Sportweek programme it would be a shame if the series did not go ahead, but added that when watching the "harrowing scenes" in Mumbai last week, cricket was the last thing on his mind.
"I wouldn't be 100% happy going back," he said. "If the report says 'look guys we're safe, we can go out there, we can do some good playing cricket', then I'd go.”