LONDON, Dec 3: Former Test cricketer Geoff Boycott has warned English cricket chiefs it would be “monstrous” to send the national team back to India in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

England’s squad returned home in the aftermath of the attacks but are expected to return next week and play two Test matches, although there are doubts about how many of the leading players will be prepared to travel.

In his column in Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph, Boycott wrote that it would be “disrespectful, insensitive and immoral” to send a team back to India, regardless of what security assurances the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have received from their hosts.

The former England batsman, now a leading commentator who is well known in India, added: “Given what has just happened in India, it is monstrous for the ECB even to be thinking about sending the team back out again.

“It’s all very well to say ‘We mustn’t let the terrorists win’, but what about the grieving families who have lost loved ones.

“Sport is supposed to be enjoyable, entertaining and essentially fun. But I don’t know how any of that can be possible when India is burying more than 200 victims of terror,” Boycott expressed.

“In fact, the ECB are showing a lack of moral judgment by pressing ahead with all these meetings and security inspections. The whole thing is just too raw.”

Boycott’s intervention came as the ECB awaited a report from its security expert Reg Dickason, who is currently in India inspecting arrangements for Tests scheduled to take place in Chennai and Mohali.

All the signs were that the ECB would give a green light for England to return with their preparations for the start of the first Test in Chennai on Dec 11, including a warm-up match, taking place in Abu Dhabi.

But it is far from certain that England will be able to send a full-strength side given that as many as six first-choice players are likely to refuse to join the trip, according to former player Dominic Cork.

“I know of at least five or six players who are going to turn their backs on England,” Cork claimed.

“Those I’ve spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on TV [in India] was 10 times worse than what was shown here.

“I am not sure about the captain [Kevin Pietersen]. I know of certain players who are going to put their families first,” he stated. “If one doesn’t go, they all shouldn’t go. They should make a stand and say ‘it’s not safe for us to be there’.”—AFP