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i think the ECB have made a wise decision in coming out this early and said that the england players will not be forced to go back to play the 2 tests.

it must have been a worrying time to be a foreigner knowing that you may be targeted for a bomb, but to be a high profile cricket player must have been terrifying!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

So if Australia had gone home after the 7/7 attacks, would that have been justified? Imagine the uproar of how England was still safe etc.

After all the attacks on the Underground here could have caused an even bigger catastrophe than what is going on in Mumbai, not to mention the further foiled plot on 21/7.

At least in Mumbai the situation was contained and there has been no repeat yet. The team should go back and play the Tests at least.

MrModha, your points are in some ways valid, but there is one crucial difference. The 7/7 attacks were not being touted as a "systematic attack" on Southern-hemisphere people. If Australians were specifically being targeted then I have absolutely no doubt that they would have chosen to leave the country, and furthermore would have been right to do so.

Mr Long correctly points out some of the other 'incidents' which have occured on trips to India, and at those points the tour has continued without a moment's thought. The difference between then and now is the idea that Westerners are being specifically targeted for the attacks. This means that the English players and fans would be obvious and high-profile targets, and with their general locations being obvious for five-day pockets at a time. It would be impossible to guarantee safety; it is always extremely difficult to do so at any rate.

Whilst I think nearly everyone would love to see the tour continue, both for the short-term enjoyment and long-term safeguarding of the game of cricket across the globe... if there is any grain of truth to the idea that Westerners are being specifically chosen as targets, then this has to be factored in to the considerations. Avoidance of any further casualties is the primary consideration here.

Pretty difficult one - I think most of the players will probably want to give this one a miss. Shame from a purely cricket point of view as I think the tests might be (have been) closer than you'd think.

I know my previous comment was pure speculation but it certainly gives one something to think about. Since the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ won't post it, there's not really anything of interest in this blog other than the Indian premier league moving there entire show to a more safer venue (like South Africa).
Terrorist attacks are something of a common occurence on the sub-continent and to move it to SA would certainly be an option, but then again I doubt that we have the cricket crazed fanatics as in India.

i agree completely with MrModha - westerners were being specifically targated and i wouldnt feel safe anywhere i was going to be singled out as a potential target for bullets and bombs!

there needs to be (and usually is) clear lines between sport and politics and rightly so - sport is so powerful that using it for political means would be terrible.

having said this, the safety needs of the sportspeople needs to be taken into account and, in a country where cricket is followed as madly as football is here (if not more so), the england cricket team would have been at risk had they have stayed.

they made the right decision in coming home (even if it was only to avoid a 7-0 beating in the series!!!!)

I think that if there is any way the security can be guaranteed within reason, I accept there can be no absolute guarantees, then the boys should go back. This is important both for the game, where India is currently the powerhouse, and politically. I think India deserves support in these difficult times and where I recognise crickiters are not soldiers so should not be exposed to the risks of war, their presence would send a message to the terrorists that our way of life isnt up for negotiation.

India is a fantastic country where the majority are liberal and tollerant and we should recognise this in our response. If need be fly in 50 or so SAS men from Afganistan to protect them!

Sadly, it is not an issue about India but an issue with India's relations with Pakistan. The heartbreaking disintegration of that country (by no means limited to the Kashmir conflict, of course) has effectively laid waste to the Pakistani test side too. Of course, that’s a minor issue in the context of a country sliding into a level of anarchy and tribalism on a par with its neighbour Afghanistan.

India is so very different though. There is clearly such an awful long way to go until the threat of Islamic terrorism there reaches the level it has in Pakistan. Until then, the likes of England, Australia and New Zealand, security specialists, bodyguards and all, must continue to tour India, as they have Sri Lanka under a similar level of threat for many years.

I think it was the wrong decision by England, and am ashamed that they came home. Sportsmen and women in the world are the people we look up to. To see them running scared doesn't restore much faith in me. I realize how scared and frightening it must be to see the hotel you stay at to be the middle of a terrorist attack.

However in India especially the thing that unites everybody together is cricket. And by returning home shows the terrorists that they have scared us and beaten us. Instead we should unite with India play the matches, show that we haven't been beaten.

I was in Jaipur when we had the terrorists attacks there, fine it wasn't aimed specifically at westerners but occurred where tourists went. Jaipur led by Shane Warne in the IPL didn't cancel there matches. The following Saturday i went with hundreds of Indians to watch Jaipur win. Showing them support, the heightened police and army was impressive. And am certain that the same will now apply in Mumbai imagining the police and army to be in their thousands. Safety here cannot not be assured but i have faith in the Indian services that they can keep the cricketers safe.

It was a evil act, especially at the railway station and Leopald cafe, where i have sat previously over a beer, it is hard to imagine such atrocities and my thoughts are with the families of those hurt and killed. But i think it is essential for us to not show that we have been defeated.

India is so vast, and there are many many cricket grounds where safety and security is guaranteed, down South or up North. I hope that the cricketers do return.

i understand the point of sports-people being leading role models in society but you have to remember that they are individual people doing what they have dreamed of doing since a child who have families and need to make the right decisions for themselves as humans.

we should never condone acts of terror in any shape of form but we do not have to leave our sports stars there as targets to prove the point that we are not scared of them. that should be done politically, just as the terror attacks are done.

The recent horrific events in India have shocked us all and our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in such senseless, indiscriminate slaughter. My knowledge of India's geography is tenuous, but I do know our feckless cricket team were hundreds of miles away from the danger area, were well guarded, and in no possible danger from the events in Mumbai.
Scuttling back to England like a bunch of hysterical children simply serves to give added weight to the savages' actions and poses a serious question as to the moral fibre of these highly paid, pampered, prima donnas.
For the sake of what remains of England's much tarnished reputation in the world today, get back on a plane to India, finish your tour, even if it means another thrashing, and prehaps on the way back, stop off in Mumbai to pay your belated respects to that suffering city.

Im an Indian Cricket supporter living outside India (In the states) and I wouldnt want to see the English team going back to India this year and the beginning few months of the next year until India decides and implements things learnt from this tragedy.

we must not forget how much the England rugby team was appreciated when they went to play in Dublin at the height of the troubles.
This happened many years ago but the courage and solidarity it demonstrated meant a great deal to the Irish and it is well remembered.
Besides there is very little to be gained by the terrorists in targetting a cricket team. No sporting event (except Munich 1972) has ever been attacked before. Extremely unlikely that the (mainly) Pakistani terrorists would attack a cricket match which is loved by all classes.

Further to my point above, I can appreciate the fear created by much of the media saying the targets were Western Passport holders, but on the news channels I have seen (indian channels that broadcast here) the majority of those injured were NRI's (Non Resident Indians) who had a foreign passport. I may be wrong on this but just judging what I have seen to far.

I also know that the hotel which England would have used was targeted but when the team would have stayed there, the security would have been extremely tight. It is a well known fact that Indians love cricket and cricketers, this includes foreign ones as much as their own - which other country's teams would pay $6million for the services of Symonds?! I use that as an example to show the importance of security for the cricketers out there, and can say with fair certainty that this attack would not have occured with the English team there, there would be no way to get inside.

MrModha
I hope you are never proven wrong, but I'm afraid you may be.
The Indian Special forces were hopelessly inadequate in this tragedy, and the terrorists were very well trained and prepared, and were looking for a high profile target.
Nothing would have stopped them!!

Little to be gained by going ahead with a hastily cobbled together two Test so-called series. Only the money men could really think that it is worthwhile.

A time for calm and for showing some respect to the dead and the bereaved.

Let's think again in the new year. In the meantime our thoughts are with all who have suffered.

"There may have been others... Please be careful with statements of fact unless 100% sure!"

Something you have learnt through hard experience Mr Brett?

point taken Oliver. However the one man band Eric Rudolf with his deranged views and madcap bombing campaigns hardly constituted a threat to society of the magnitude of the militant moslem extremists in Mumbai.
Perhaps a (hastily arranged?)one day peace match between England and a team of composing Indian and Pakistani cricketers with the proceeds going to the victims might strike the the right note and help bring about hope and reconciliation.

I cant help but feel the real reason for England leaving was more to do with the way the results in the series went then their safety. If the series was tied at 2-2 or England were one game behind you can bet that they'd want to continue the series as a positive result would be possible for them. IMHO they left to prevent losing any more games to India, the one day series would've ended 7-0 if they'd have stayed and that's an embarrassment they knew they could hide from.

We Brits are made of sterner stuff, and should hold hands with India and show them that terrorism will never affect our way of life because when we show fear it gives further cause to terrorists to continue what they do. Alot of us grew up with the IRA bombing parts of Britain but were told to continue as normal, same was said after 7/7.

With India being a cricket mad country, a few matches would've undoubtedly have helped them forget and get back to normal after the events of Mumbai. Security would be paramount as the BCCI and the Gov know if there was an attack on a cricket team/venue etc then money spinners like IPL would be cancelled along with all forms of cricket being suspended in the country for a long while and that would be catastrophic for India.

Before anyone criticises what I've written, I was out in India (in Punjab) at the time of the attacks and have only just returned. I was in no way, shape or form worried that I'd be a target, in fact I'm due to go back out there in January. Having said that I'm extremely bitter at the England teams response as the people of India need something to help pick them up and cricket fits the bill perfectly.

(for some reason I can only post once on a blog so I cannot respond to anyones comments so dont be too upset if you dont hear from me)

This tour is over, Englands players would not be in the right frame of mind heading back to play test cricket. After the Twenty Twenty shambles in the Carribean and the humiliating one dayers the players need to stay home rest and prepare for next year. Living in Indias hotels under high security maybe safe but the aura around the team would not be one of professional sportsmen with a winning mentality. This tour should not happen for the decency of the game.

This is a purely British decision and I am uncertain I should comment here.

Nevertheless, I will take the chance.

I have lived in Mumbai, as most liberal Indians live, with one approving eye on the values of the West (and one disapproving). And I believe one of those values is that sports has the unique ability to create a unified, borderless community, precisely, by nurturing competitive spirits based on borders.

To me, a TOUR would be a statement of solidarity at a time when morale is extremely low, in a once vibrant city. An exhibition match, even if in Mumbai, would not. Likewise, the captain of the team visiting here would tell us that Britain feels its important to express defiance of terror tactics, just as much as I do (am blogging in the middle of the night right now, to try take my mind, my attention away from the news and discussions all around me). A visit by a 'B' team would not (even if the 'B' team includes other stars, besides Pietersen).

I shall hope that Britain does tour India and with the Barmy army. I, for one, would support them on the grounds against my own team.

I understand its not the easiest decision to make for the team members. I shall hope that they do come to the right one, whatever it may be. There were 22 foreigners killed in these attacks and 161 of my countrymen. I hope for cheerier news than this.

Hi every one why you people are saying that Terrorist are killing western people are Indians not dying in this bomb blast if there is any bomb blast,its the Indian people who gets killed,because India has many religions christians ,Hindus ,Buddhism , Sikhs ,, so its not western,ts Indian People who are been getting killed,and if England Players were on tht Taj hotel ,the security would have been more tightened,not even a bird can inter while there is Players security,its unfortunate the English players were not there at tht time or else the security would be really tight,u can ask English Players,were ever Players Go there will be Huge Black cats to protect them,india spends so much Money on their security so never think about wrong faults friends,huge army will be there to protect any kind of players.

At last someone has mentioned the poor travelling English supporter who has invested a lot of time effort and money to travel to India but no one seems to have taken them into consideration. As you say the tour goes on whether they see cricket or not , and if we are lucky to see a Test Match the venues keep changing-first it was Chennai for the Second Test and now its Mohali. Try sorting that one out and finding accommodation and flights at the last moment whilst we wait with bated breath to see whether the England players can be bothered to come back!

I think England should go back and I would be very proud of my team's character and defiance if they did, even if a few key players were missing. India needs this series to help them go some way to putting this tragedy behind them, and the people of India deserve the one thing that will cheer them up more than anything else- International cricket.

Personally, I don't think that terrorist threat levels change from day to day anywhere. It's just as risky to be there now as it was when England first arrived, and it probably always will be.

I'm going travelling around India soon and cancelling my trip was not something I even considered. And I'm no celebrity and won't have any security with me unlike the England cricket team who will be safer with the amount of security they will be given if they go back than they would be wandering around London by themselves.
Sure it will be a tough, restricted and possibly boring tour if they go back, but that is their job and people have to deal with the highs and lows of any job.

But obviously the final decision quite rightly is down to each individual player.

The comparison with 7/7 is meaningless - as evidenced by the fact that the Mumbai attacks were allowed to carry on for three whole days it is clear that Indian security bears no relation to what the British can provide.
I think the players have every right to stay at home, especially since their performance is likely to be affected.
There is no point in flying out to India, getting beaten in an absent-minded two-match Test series, then flying home... all when there is a serious security risk.

I've just listened to 'somebody' on Radio 5 saying how the England team had been 'traumatised' by the Mumbai attacks. Because they had seen something on TV. I'm sorry but they were nowhere near the incident. I find this kind of attitude incredible when there are British soldiers not very far away from Mumbai confronting terrorism directly - and sometimes paying with their lives.

I don't have a problem with the team coming back. But please, don't say they were traumatised.

Save your respect and pity for those who are really fighting for us. Not a cricket team.

its true that life for foreiners are at risk Mumbai that day, but India is a big country and there are hundreds of other safer places for English Cricketrs can feel at home. If England team does not go back, then it will really encourage people who are behind this drastic incidents. It can happen anywhere in the world now. Think if something happens in London ( as it happend before) will they shift the venue of Olympics if other countries think London is not safe?
Cricket is a passion and relegion in India, by opting not to play there again English team will really insult the whole nation which is passionate of this beutiful game .

I'm glad to hear that the plan is for England to go back- the least the Indian people deserve.
Not going back would not be "playing for the badge", as Pietersen would say. Imagine if you got a phone call from Geoff Miller tomorrow asking you to play cricket for England in India- would you say no?

Many of the articles posted here talk about tight security for the returning England team as if it's a given. I've spent much of the last two winters travelling in India and saw examples of how superficial and ineffective security standards are except at the international airports.

I now realise that the situation is even worse tha I thought. I suggest that anyone who doubts this should read this article by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Mumbai Indian Correspondent Soutik Biswas.



'Rot' at heart of Indian intelligence

I personally don't think that a terrorist attack is likely immediately following the Mumbai incidents as there seems to be a pattern of one every 2 months since May, and these these things take time to organise. However I don't see how the England team's safety can be guaranteed in the current environment. The systemic problems in the Indian national and state security organisations will take years to sort out, if indeed they are ever sorted.

As long as the government keeps blaming Pakistan and avoids facing up to it's own internal shortcomings nothing is likely to change.

Hello aarongeordie

Well, I'm an Indian guy so this is just to clarify your statement that Indian force was helpless. They were helpless coz terrorists had hostages and their lives cannot be put to stake to show the world that we can deal with any terrorists within few hours. They could have easily attacked the 3,4 terrorists in Taj and without thinking about hostages.
Any countries force can't deal with such situations...