England cricket managers have delayed a formal decision on the status of their team’s return to India but indications are not discouraging.
Bangalore, Mohali and Kolkata are alternate venues the ECB is looking at for the first Test starting Dec 11MUMBAI: England cricket managers have delayed a formal decision on the status of their team’s return to India but indications are not discouraging. At least the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) believes that there is no threat to the Test series.
So confident is the BCCI that it was not worried about the outcome of the meeting between the ECB officials and its players. “Why we should think about their meeting. I have already stated that the tour is on as schedule. I stand by those comments. There is no change in our position,” secretary N Srinivasan said.
However, at the time of going to the press, the officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were still waiting for a formal report on the security situation in India. The report is expected to be a compilation of inputs from England’s high commission office in India, commonwealth authorities and independent security agency but the mood among the players and ECB authorities is learnt to be in favour of the Tests.
Unless in the event of an unexpectedly negative report from the security officials, Kevin Pietersen & Co could well be back in India some time next week. The ECB is expected to give a formal go-ahead anytime. “We’ll decide some time in the next 36 hours,” an ECB spokesman told DNA on Sunday evening.
But ECB’s green signal is unlikely to be without riders. There is every chance that English Board would insist on shifting the venue of the first Test from Ahmedabad. The reason for the request could be anyone’s guess. The Test is scheduled to start on December 11. But that is a request the BCCI is unlikely to turn down. “What does India want? A Test series with England. We will ensure the Tests are played on time,” said a top Board official, without specifically mentioning if they would change the venue.
Although it has not yet been decided which would be the possible venue, indications are that it could be either Bangalore, Kolkata or Mohali, cities which have no security concerns from England’s point of view. The ECB may also give the players a choice on whether to be part of the tour or not. Some players, including Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, have reportedly expressed concerns over coming back to India.
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