England’s cricket team will take the final decision by Monday if to return to India for two scheduled test matches following this week’s attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people. Hugh Morris, managing director, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in London that ECB is committed to go back to play another test series, provided the security is guaranteed. While speaking at a news conference at Heathrow airport on Saturday after the team arrived back having cut short their one-day series,

Morris said a security report would be compiled within the next 48 hours that fringe players were ready if required to replace any team members not wishing to return to India. He added that ECB would not force anyone to join the squad and is left to the personal decision of the players. The ECB have to give the players the most up-to-date security information and then will the decision for the players to make. The first test match is scheduled to start on December 11.

England captain Kevin Pietersen said that he is still in shock and his blood had run cold after watching events in Mumbai unfold. Pietersen was heard quoted to a tabloid that whenever he see the footage of the attack, he is reminded how close the team was to death.

Pieterson added that he hasn’t slept thinking about the three-day rampage and siege. The team was in Taj Mahal Hotel just two weeks ago.The decision to return home was made following the bloodshed in Mumbai where luxury hotels, including the landmark Taj Palace, cafes and railway stations were targeted.

“The players, unsurprisingly, have been hugely affected by this,” Morris told reporters. “We actually stayed at the Taj Palace hotel some two and a half week ago. We ate in those restaurants. We were served by the people there.”

Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-president Lalit Modi had made it clear that the test matches would go ahead but the second match supposed to be played in Mumbai would be moved Chennai.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) urged England to be back in India to play the test series that is scheduled to play next month. The future of the tour is blank after the ferocious terror strike in Mumbai that shocked the entire sub continent. England had suddenly called off the one-day series and had left the country on Friday.
Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive, ICC in a statement made on Sunday said that he will urge the English side to go ahead with the series, if everything relating to safety and security is assured. He also urged the viewers to come to the stadium and encourage the teams, if the series takes place as per scheduled. He feels this will be a fitting reply to the terrorists who wants to disrupt the atmosphere.

England returned back to home this week after the last two games of their one-day series in India were called off after the attacks in Mumbai which killed almost 200 people.

Both national cricket boards have agreed to go ahead with the series. England would return to play the two-test series, starting on Dec. 11. the venue for the second Test has shifted to Chennai, from Mumbai. But there are still confusions regarding many things. Many players from the English side have expressed concerns regarding security and have shown signs of pulling out from series.

Lorgat said he has written to both the Indian and England cricket boards pledging ICC support to ensure cricket was not disrupted.

Lorgat while offering condolences to the Mumbai people said that terrorism appears increasingly to be a fact of life that we must endure. He added that the cricket family has a responsibility to combat terrorism in all possible ways.

The ICC chief executive committee will discuss security challenges regarding the series in its next meet in Cape Town next week.

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