Former English skipper Michael Vaughan has commented that Kevin Pietersen will have hard time in convincing his team mates to return back to India for the Test series scheduled for next month. Vaughan feels that playing in India will be more like being in a “military camp” after the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks. Vaughan doubts if Indians would be prepared to play after the mayhem that killed around 200.
Vaughan say that things must be considered after taking into consideration the conditions of Indian players. Many players including Sachin Tendulkar live in Mumbai. Many may have lost close relatives, and it would not be right to convince them to play at this moment. The former English skipper feels that the scale of the attack was so severe that the players are unlikely to feel safe even if provided presidential security.

“The situation is so tense. Definitely, the guys do love to play cricket for the country, but they may need their safety guaranteed. After reaching back at home, the players have to give themselves 24 hours then sit down and ask themselves if they can be 100 per cent committed to playing cricket in India. Nothing comes more than the lives and playing in current situation, will not help them in taking out their real game.

Vaughan added that the players’ fear is likely to be compounded by reports that the terrorists, who laid siege to the Indian financial hub, were looking to target westerners.

The reports that the terrorists were looking for Americans and British do have created a fear in the mind of players which may take some time to get deleted.

There are a lot of young players in the squad who may find these things too hard to digest. Vaughan also said that he would have certainly withdrawn from the tour in such a situation.

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