England "showing solidarity with Indian people"
Thursday, 04 Dec 2008 11:32
Kevin Pietersen says England will not turn their backs on India
Kevin Pietersen has said the England cricket team are standing "shoulder to shoulder" with the Indian people by returning to the troubled country to play a two-match Test series.
At a hastily-arranged press conference at Heathrow airport this morning, the England captain confirmed the full 15-man squad would be flying to Abu Dhabi for training before continuing on to India for the first Test in Chennai.
And although Pietersen admitted the tour could still be called off if final security reports "set off any alarm bells", he said the squad would make a "collective decision" and are prepared to give their full support to the Indian people.
"As it stands at the moment the boys are very focused on playing some red ball cricket starting with the first Test in Chennai next Thursday," he said.
"We're going to buy ourselves more time in Abu Dhabi but we've got a great bunch of players who want to go back to India to play cricket.
"We'll stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian people in their time of need."
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris said he has been in constant contact with his security advisors since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week, which killed up to 180 people and forced the abandonment of the final two matches of the one-day international series in India.
But he said it is "important to show solidarity with the Indian people".
"We had a great reception when we went out there for the one-day matches," Morris continued.
"The Indian people love their cricket and it was clear to us how much it meant to them.
"We want to show solidarity with them in their hour of need."
Pietersen also rejected the notion that some players had been reluctant to return to India amid the instability, which was further exacerbated by a threat issued through a news agency against Chennai airport this week.
"It's a collective decision," he explained.
"I didn't persuade anybody – they are men and make decisions for themselves.
"It was very clear that nobody was persuaded or told what to do.
"We respect their views and we're happy to have a great bunch of lads who want to jump on a plane to Abu Dhabi and then on to India to play Test match cricket."