ECB CANNOT FORCE ENGLAND PLAYERS TO RETURN TO INDIA
Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has admitted that if England’s cricketers do not want to return to India then there is no way they can be forced.
Following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, where 150 people have been killed this week, captain Kevin Pietersen and his team-mates touched down at Heathrow Airport in London on Saturday night – and as it stands they are due to return to the Subcontinent to play a two-match Test series which starts on December 11 in Ahmadabad.
Morris said that a team of experts, headed by Reg Dickason, will be compiling information over the next two days before a decision is made by the ECB as to whether England will fly back to India. But even if the ECB conclude that it is safe to return, England may have to do without a raft of senior players.
“There were a number of different options we looked at but we felt it was most appropriate to come here [to England],” said the 44-year-old. “We have returned to assess the safety and security situation for the remainder of the England cricket tour of India.
“We have a team of people we rely on for that information and we work very closely with the foreign and commonwealth office. They are pulling that information together over the next 24 to 48 hours and we will assess that when we have it.
“Assuming that safety and security is OK we would potentially be returning in quite a short timescale. There is a lot of work to be done in the next few days.”
A number of senior players are believed to be unhappy at the prospect of returning to India, and Morris revealed that a weakened team would be dispatched if necessary. He indicated that players from the performance squad would be used, if it is deemed safe to return.
“Everyone has been badly affected by what has happen in Mumbai,” continued Morris. “We actually stayed at the Taj Palace Hotel [where some attacks happened] two weeks ago.
“If somebody felt strongly that they did not want to go back, I would not force them. They would have the necessary information to make an informed decision but that would be a personal choice if someone felt very strongly about it.
“It has affected the players as much as anybody. There is a good degree of nervousness – there is no doubt about that; it’s natural. One of the reasons to come back here is to return to an environment that the players are very comfortable in.”
Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has admitted that if England’s cricketers do not want to return to India then there is no way they can be forced.
Following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, where 150 people have been killed this week, captain Kevin Pietersen and his team-mates touched down at Heathrow Airport in London on Saturday night – and as it stands they are due to return to the Subcontinent to play a two-match Test series which starts on December 11 in Ahmadabad.
Morris said that a team of experts, headed by Reg Dickason, will be compiling information over the next two days before a decision is made by the ECB as to whether England will fly back to India. But even if the ECB conclude that it is safe to return, England may have to do without a raft of senior players.
“There were a number of different options we looked at but we felt it was most appropriate to come here [to England],” said the 44-year-old. “We have returned to assess the safety and security situation for the remainder of the England cricket tour of India.
“We have a team of people we rely on for that information and we work very closely with the foreign and commonwealth office. They are pulling that information together over the next 24 to 48 hours and we will assess that when we have it.
“Assuming that safety and security is OK we would potentially be returning in quite a short timescale. There is a lot of work to be done in the next few days.”
A number of senior players are believed to be unhappy at the prospect of returning to India, and Morris revealed that a weakened team would be dispatched if necessary. He indicated that players from the performance squad would be used, if it is deemed safe to return.
“Everyone has been badly affected by what has happen in Mumbai,” continued Morris. “We actually stayed at the Taj Palace Hotel [where some attacks happened] two weeks ago.
“If somebody felt strongly that they did not want to go back, I would not force them. They would have the necessary information to make an informed decision but that would be a personal choice if someone felt very strongly about it.
“It has affected the players as much as anybody. There is a good degree of nervousness – there is no doubt about that; it’s natural. One of the reasons to come back here is to return to an environment that the players are very comfortable in.”
Labels: England and Wales cricket Board, Hugh Morris, India
