ID :
34029
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 09:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34029
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It's an open-minded decision to return to India: Pietersen
London, Dec 4 (PTI) England captain Kevin Pietersen Thursday back-patted his teammates for showing courage and standing united by agreeing to return to terror-struck India for two-Test series without any pressure and be in sub-continent in its hour of need.
"It's fantastic the guys want to go and rub shoulders
together with India at a time of need. It's a huge stance by
this England team to jump on the plane and go and do the
business," he said before leaving for Abu Dhabi where England
will practice ahead of the Tests.
"Everybody has become a bit more open-minded about their
decision. They've spoken to family members and they have
realised that it's pretty huge to go back to India.
"I didn't persuade anybody, I respect everybody's
individual concern and respect their decisions - they are men
at the end of the day. I think it's very clear that nobody was
told what to do," he was quoted as saying by the 'BBC Sport'.
The England team will leave Abu Dhabi on Monday for the
first match starting December 11 in Chennai, after approval
from security squad in India under the leadership of Reg
Dickason. There will be no warm-up match in India.
Pietersen also made it clear that need be it would be a
collective decision of the players to come home.
"There's a collective decision now. The guys are just
waiting on reports from Reg (Dickason, the ECB security
adviser) on Sunday night. If there are any alarm bells ringing
the collective decision will be to come home," Pietersen said.
"But we are very focused on playing red-ball cricket," he
added.
On speculation that all rounder Andrew Flintoff and Steve
Harmison would refuse to go back to India, Pietersen said
"They became a lot more open-minded which is fantastic because
they are two big players and we certainly want them in our
team."
Meanwhile, Indian airports were put on high alert on
following warnings of possible airborne attacks. Security was
beefed up at city airports across the country, including the
one in Chennai.
ECB managing director Hugh Morris said he was in the
process of finding out more information about that
development.
"We are obviously concerned but what we need to do is
find out the situation. I've spoken to our security team out
in Chennai and when more information is fed back to me that
will form part of the security audit." PTI SKI
DEP
"It's fantastic the guys want to go and rub shoulders
together with India at a time of need. It's a huge stance by
this England team to jump on the plane and go and do the
business," he said before leaving for Abu Dhabi where England
will practice ahead of the Tests.
"Everybody has become a bit more open-minded about their
decision. They've spoken to family members and they have
realised that it's pretty huge to go back to India.
"I didn't persuade anybody, I respect everybody's
individual concern and respect their decisions - they are men
at the end of the day. I think it's very clear that nobody was
told what to do," he was quoted as saying by the 'BBC Sport'.
The England team will leave Abu Dhabi on Monday for the
first match starting December 11 in Chennai, after approval
from security squad in India under the leadership of Reg
Dickason. There will be no warm-up match in India.
Pietersen also made it clear that need be it would be a
collective decision of the players to come home.
"There's a collective decision now. The guys are just
waiting on reports from Reg (Dickason, the ECB security
adviser) on Sunday night. If there are any alarm bells ringing
the collective decision will be to come home," Pietersen said.
"But we are very focused on playing red-ball cricket," he
added.
On speculation that all rounder Andrew Flintoff and Steve
Harmison would refuse to go back to India, Pietersen said
"They became a lot more open-minded which is fantastic because
they are two big players and we certainly want them in our
team."
Meanwhile, Indian airports were put on high alert on
following warnings of possible airborne attacks. Security was
beefed up at city airports across the country, including the
one in Chennai.
ECB managing director Hugh Morris said he was in the
process of finding out more information about that
development.
"We are obviously concerned but what we need to do is
find out the situation. I've spoken to our security team out
in Chennai and when more information is fed back to me that
will form part of the security audit." PTI SKI
DEP
