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England tour: decision today

Sports Reporter

Security evaluation team to submit final report

— PHOTO: AFP

KEEPING FIT: The England cricket team practising at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Chennai: The England and Wales Cricket Board’s Managing Director, Hugh Morris, and the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Chief Executive, Sean Morris, will make a final assessment of the security measures in place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium and the team hotel, before submitting their report on Sunday.

The Chennai Test between India and England is scheduled to commence on December 11.

The ECB delegation will be appraised of the complete security system in place for the England team during the first Test, after the one-day series was called off following the Mumbai terror attacks. The duo will fly to Abu Dhabi with a final report that will determine England’s decision to leave for Chennai from Abu Dhabi, where the squad is presently training.

Earlier this week, ECB security adviser Reg Dickason inspected the stadium and hotel, and held discussions with the BCCI and police officials.

Paul Collingwood, who is training with the team, said the mind-set of the players would have to be of preparedness. “We have to believe that we’re playing two Test matches against India. That’s the mind-set. “There cannot be any indecision because mentally we have to get our heads around the fact that we are due to play a Test match next Thursday. No one’s had their arm twisted behind their back to come here,” he was quoted from Abu Dhabi by the Guardian.

“Everyone was in the same boat and we were in constant contact with each other and thinking about the situation. Every single person had concerns. It is going to be a massive challenge but this kind of situation can bring a team together,” he added.

The England team managed just a brief training session at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi before incessant rain disrupted practice

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