Chandigarh, December 8
The BCCI treasurer M P Pandove categorically dismissed reports emanating from various quarters suggesting the second Test against England from December 19 may be shifted out of Mohali even as England tour of India was given a go-ahead today.
Dispelling all the uncertainty, reports from Abu Dhabi where England team was preparing ahead of the two-Test series earlier said a full-strength England team had agreed to tour India. England and Wales Cricket Board’s security adviser Reg Dickason, who visited Chennai — the venue for the first Test starting from December 11 — to take a stock of the security situation, in his submitted late last night report, declared India safe for the players.
Talking to TNS, Pandove, also the hony secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association, firmly stated that the Test was very much on at Mohali as per schedule. The reports today suggested that due to some “logistical problems” the second Test may be played at some other venue and not Mohali. New Delhi and Bangalore were being mentioned as possible venues. Reports appearing in English media alleged that the England players may not agree to play at a venue so close to Pakistan.
Postponement of the visit of Dickason to the PCA Stadium tomorrow to oversee the security arrangements in consultation
with the local police and the hotel staff helped only to cloud the matter further. Dickason was scheduled to be at Mohali along with Hugh Morris, managing director of the ECB and Sean Morris, head of the Englands players’ association.
“The visit of ECB security Advisor Reg Dickason has been postponed and the exact schedule of his visit has not been received,” a statement issued today by the PCA without specifying any reasons said.
Elaborating on the deferred visit, Pandove said: “Dickason’s visit has just been postponed by a day as he is currently in Dubai. His visit to Mohali is very much on and he will be here a day after.” Dickason headed to Dubai after visiting and giving a go-ahead to Chennai as the first Test venue.
“Is there any word from the England and Wales Cricket Board or the BCCI regarding the change of the Test venue. If not, then where is the question of change in venue?,” quizzed Pandove.
“I was in touch with key BCCI officials till evening and there was no talk of the sort. Here at the PCA there is no word on postponement. I wonder where such reports are coming from,” he retorted.
Regarding reports that the England contingent comprising players, staff attached with the team, coach and manager, scribes, etc, wanted to leave for England the same day and hence preferred a venue having provision of a direct fight to London, Pandove replied that the issue had been raised a couple of days earlier.
“We had made it clear there and then that a chartered flight would be kept ready for the English contingent so that they could leave Mohali immediately after the Test and reach Delhi or any other place from where they can take a flight to England the same night.”
