THE England and Wales Cricket Board are thought to be close to accepting tightened security arrangements for the resumption of the tour to India – but former player Dominic Cork claims the side are "traumatised" and as many as six of Peter Moores' squad will not return.
The ECB have been locked in talks surrounding the future of the two-Test tour, which was put in doubt by the team's departure on Saturday to reassess the situation following the campaign of terror on Mumbai's leading landmarks.
The ECB are thought
to be close to agreeing a revised itinerary – including a stop-off and warm-up match in Abu Dhabi – pending Reg Dickason's security assessment. But Cork insisted a host of unnamed key players are unwilling to travel in the current climate.
"I know of at least five or six players who are going to turn their backs on England," he said. "Those I've spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on television was ten times worse than what was shown here. I am not sure about the captain (Kevin Pietersen). I know of certain players who are going to put their families first. If one doesn't go, they all shouldn't go. They should make a stand and say 'it's not safe for us to be there'."
Talks involving the ECB, the BCCI and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue today, with ECB chairman Giles Clarke yesterday insisting big strides had already been taken.
"A lot of progress has been made and some extremely good and constructive meetings have taken place," confirmed ECB chairman Giles Clarke. "Reg Dickason is going to Chennai and we are awaiting his reports.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India are doing all it can to facilitate the tour but we must do what we have to do properly and thoroughly. It is what every England player wants and deserves."
Among the measures England are thought to have demanded from the BCCI has been the introduction of a 20-man commando force at every venue while they also want an evacuation procedure put in place should there be any untoward incidents.
The full article contains 366 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
