English board keeping its fingers crossed

Hugh Morris, the ECB's managing director for cricket, told that England players are always keen to play international cricket. "But the Mumbai attacks have now affected everybody in India and the world", reports Soumyajit Pattnaik.

Hugh Morris, the ECB's managing director for cricket, told a press conference on Thursday that he and his colleagues were in constant touch with BCCI officials, the British High Commission in Delhi and their security sources in India. "We are taking advice on security issues. We are looking at all options. The Test match series is in place. If the security reports say that it would be safe and secure to play the Test series, that's what we will do. One of the options is to go back home and come again," said Morris.

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Asked whether the Mumbai attacks have deeply impacted the England players, Morris said, "We are having a constant dialogue with the players. All the players feel sorry for all those who have lost their near and dear ones in Mumbai. At the same time they are very disturbed. Terrorism is a global issue and it's very real. However, we don't want to compromise on the safety and security of our players".

Morris also said that England players are always keen to play international cricket. "But the Mumbai attacks have now affected everybody in India and the world. We are thus having discussions on security issues".

Morris and his colleagues had a meeting with BCCI officials on Thursday morning and requested the cancellation of the two remaining ODIs. The BCCI acceded to the requests. “We also requested the BCCI to cancel all our arrangements in Guwahati and allow us to stay in Bhubaneswar. They allowed to stay here and cancelled the remaining ODIs".