Lawson slams England for tour drop-out

MELBOURNE: Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson Monday criticised England's decision to abandon their tour of India due to security fears, saying the move smacked of double standards.
    

"It's interesting that England are heading home and certain players don't want to play the Test series and yet we go back to 2005, bombs went off in London while there was a
big series on there and it didn't affect one iota the cricket," Lawson said.
    

"I think a few of the England players should reflect on what happened in their country before they start pulling out of cricket matches in India," said the former Australia pacer.
    

England pulled out of the remaining two one-dayers against India in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and some players have expressed concern about returning to the country for the two-match Test series.
    

Lawson, as then Pakistan coach, was against the idea of postponing the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, saying it would only give terrorists a platform to dictate world cricket.

"If you stop events that aren't particularly and directly threatening, you're just succumbing to terrorism and they succeed," 'Australian Associated Press' quoted Lawson as saying on Sydney radio station 2KY.