CA keeping close watch on India after blasts

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) is keeping a close watch on the  developments in India after serial bomb blasts rocked Bangalore and Ahmedabad as its team is scheduled to play four Tests in September-October.

The first Test is scheduled to be played in Bangalore. The other three venues are Delhi, Mohali and Nagpur.

CA general manager of public affairs, Peter Young, was to discuss the latest bombings with chief executive James Sutherland.

Representatives from CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) are due to leave for India on August 10 for the latest inspection, and now a security consultant may also join them.

"We have a principle which supports a consistent process of having a pre-tour  inspection and assessment before every tour," Young was quoted as saying in The Australian.

Security has been a major concern for teams participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and several players have openly said they will back out of the tournament if International Cricket Council persists with the venue.

The dominant Asia bloc of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh backed Pakistan to host the tournament. They voted Thursday night's ICC telephone hook-up to keep the tournament in Pakistan.

There was fear of setting a precedent, moving a tournament which involves the top  eight cricket nations over safety and security issues, when all four countries are  jointly hosting the next World Cup in 2011.