The flexibility shown by the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) seems to have broken the ice over the confusion on England’s tour of India. The BCCI shifted the Test venues to Mohali and Chennai, from Ahmedabad and Mumbai assuring all security measures to the England team. The England & Wales Cricket Board, sources have principally agreed to return to India to complete the Test match-leg of the tour that got disrupted after the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. But ECB will take its final decision only after getting a clearance from their security consultants.

As per the new schedule, the warm-up game that was supposed to be played on December 5-7 has been called off. The series will be kicked off with the first match at Chennai from December 11 to 15, followed by a Test in Mohali from December 19 to 23. But still certain some roadblocks exist for the England squad to return to India within a couple of weeks of their hasty departure. N Srinivasan, BCCI secretary has clarified the shifting of the venues in his media release. The England board will send their security consultant for discussions with the authorities in India before final clearance is given for the tour, said Srinivasan.

Several England players have expressed reservations about their safety in India in the wake of the terror strikes in Mumbai. ECB has made it clear that a decision will be taken only after consulting with the players. Many senior players have shown their desire to pull out of the series.

Meanwhile, BCCI has gone out of their way in their backroom negotiations with ECB as they are in attempts to save the series. Initially, the BCCI had opted to stick to the original schedule, but had to come on track with English side after ECB expressed its displeasure over that.

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