Former England bowler Andrew Caddick feels he would be willing travel to India after last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
England players and management flew home from India at the weekend after the remaining matches of their one-day series were scrapped in the wake of the tragedy.
They are due back to play two Tests this month, with the venues having been switched to Chennai and Mohali by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in an attempt to allay safety fears.
England security consultant Reg Dickason is among a party currently in India to draw up a safety report, which will play a major part in the squad's final decision on whether to return.
In 2001, Caddick and spinner Robert Croft opted out of an Indian tour following the September 11 attacks in the United States.
However, if the security report if favourable, the Somerset seamer claims he would be happy to go in the current circumstances.
"The big difference between now and then is that the ECB do have a very good security team, they've got a very good leader (Dickason) who looks after the players' security, and they'll be leaning on him a lot and asking his advice as to whether the tour will be safe," Caddick told Sky Sports News.
"But I'm sure it will be compared to 9/11, it will be a lot safer than it was back then.
"In 2001, there were nine players on that tour who didn't want to go, and a few of them were forced to go due to different circumstances, and there were a few management who didn't want to go as well.
"Even I was pressurised into going, but thankfully myself and Mr Croft were advised that it wasn't going to be held against us.
"I'm hoping that with the relationship between the players and the ECB, the ECB won't hold it against the players if they feel that their security and well-being is (more important) than the game of cricket.
"You've got to feel sorry for these guys, but it's a different scenario. In 2001 it ended up with a war in Afghanistan and it's still ongoing now."
Asked whether he would be willing to go on tour to India at present if the safety report raised no severe concerns, Caddick said: "I probably would because it's a totally different instance to 9/11.
"You cannot allow these things to stop games of cricket.
"The circumstances are totally different and I do think the security will be in place for that team to go to India and for everything to be taken care of."
Complete Cricket Socrecards of One Day International & Test Matches From Very 1st One day and From Very 1st Test Match.It is a very good thing for Cricket Lovers
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment