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| November 15, 2001 | Thursday | Shaba’an 28, 1422 |
Indian security no problem: Hussain
MUMBAI, Nov 14: England’s captain Nasser Hussain Wednesday brushed aside security worries on the Indian tour, saying his young team would prefer to concentrate on the cricket ahead.
“All that talk about security has been done and dusted now,” Hussain told reporters a few hours after the 16-man squad arrived here past midnight for their first tour of India in eight years.
“We are here to play and hopefully win. We hear India is a great place to play cricket and I am looking forward to my first appearance here.”
Armed police and sniffer dogs greeted the tourists at the heavily-guarded airport and newsmen were kept at bay as securitymen hustled the players past immigration and into the team bus for the 12-mile journey to a luxury hotel in downtown Mumbai.
The England team management put off an expected press conference till Thursday, but Hussain was cornered by few enterprising Indian reporters in the lobby of the hotel.
“This tour is especially significant for me,” said the Chennai-born Hussain, who migrated with his family to England when he was five.
England’s first tour of India since 1993 was preceded by security fears due to the US-led strikes in nearby Afghanistan. Two selected players, seamer Andrew Caddick and off-spinner Robert Croft, backed out of the trip.
The England and Wales Cricket Board agreed to undertake the tour after being assured of high-level security by the Indian government.
“The worries were natural because these are difficult times, it had nothing to do with India,” Hussain said.
“In fact, we were desperate to come and play because we spoken to the Australians and they had loved their tour of India earlier this year.”
Hussain played down fears that his inexperienced team — none in the touring party has played a Test in India before — will prove easy meat for a home side that thrives in familiar conditions.
“Few gave us a chance in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and we won both,” the England captain said.
“India is very strong at home, has very good spinners, but it should be a good series. We look forward to the challenge.”
England are due to play three back-to-back Tests in December before taking a break for Christmas and New Year.
The team will return to India in January for a series of five One-day Internationals.
England will spend a week in Mumbai, where they play a local team in the two-day tour opener at the Wankhede Stadium from Sunday.
Two three-day games in Hyderabad and Jaipur will be followed by the first Test in the northern town of Mohali from Dec 3.
The second Test will be played in Ahmedabad and the third in Bangalore.
Squad: Nasser Hussain (captain), Usman Afzaal, Martyn Ball, Mark Butcher, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe, Michael Vaughan, Mark Ramprakash, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Ashley Giles, Warren Hegg, Richard Johnson, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Craig White.
Coach: Duncan Fletcher.—AFP
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