LONDON: Visiting South African cricketers “are uneasy” following Monday’s suicide bomb attack on a pop concert in Manchester but abandoning their tour of England is not under consideration, the team’s manager has said.

Britain has increased its security threat level to “critical” from “severe” following the attack that killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.

South Africa begin their three-month tour of England with an ODI against the hosts at Leeds on Wednesday and team manager Mohammed Moosajee admitted the players were concerned.

“As you can understand we have some genuine concerns, the players are uneasy... there was a lot of chatter at the breakfast table,” Moosajee told reporters at Headingley.

“I am happy to say we’ve had constant communications from the ECB and their security manager.

“There have been guarantees put in place that security arrangements will be supplemented, starting today. We’re told there will be more visible police at the stadium, at practice sessions as well as the hotels we will reside at.”

The Proteas, who will be eyeing their maiden global title at next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales, sign off their tour with the final Test of a four-match series in Manchester.

“The hotel we will stay at when we are in Manchester for the last Test match is walking distance away from where the events unfolded so there have been some genuine concerns...” Moosaji said.

“I think the process has started to make sure the players are reassured that arrangements are being made to try and keep them safe.

“As things stand, there’s no mention of us even thinking of abandoning the tour. If the intelligence information tells us something else we would obviously have to reconsider.”

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2017