England captain Kevin Pietersen has made it clear that his side will not return to India for next month's cricket Test series unless their safety is guaranteed.
Pietersen also insisted that players should not be forced into going to India against their will.
England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday called-off the remaining two one-dayers due to the terror attack in Mumbai but assured the BCCI that the Test series was still on as scheduled unless the situation in India worsens dramatically.
Pietersen said the safety of the players cannot be compromised and even though he is the captain he has no power to force any of his team-mates to return to India.
"We need to make sure the security's right -- but if it's not safe then we won't be coming back," he said.
"People are their own people, I'll never force anyone to do anything or tell them to do anything against their will. On the field I may ask people to do things in a certain way but people run their own lives. We'll have to see how the security is," Pietersen told Sky Sports.
England Professional Cricketers' Association Chief Executive Sean Morris said the team management will take advice from security officer Reg Dickason.
"They will look at it in the cold light of day and ask, is it safe to return or not?" said Morris.
"They will go with that advice assuming the situation in India does not deteriorate further. The players have full faith in Dickason and will be guided by him."
Pietersen also insisted that players should not be forced into going to India against their will.
England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday called-off the remaining two one-dayers due to the terror attack in Mumbai but assured the BCCI that the Test series was still on as scheduled unless the situation in India worsens dramatically.
Pietersen said the safety of the players cannot be compromised and even though he is the captain he has no power to force any of his team-mates to return to India.
"We need to make sure the security's right -- but if it's not safe then we won't be coming back," he said.
"People are their own people, I'll never force anyone to do anything or tell them to do anything against their will. On the field I may ask people to do things in a certain way but people run their own lives. We'll have to see how the security is," Pietersen told Sky Sports.
England Professional Cricketers' Association Chief Executive Sean Morris said the team management will take advice from security officer Reg Dickason.
"They will look at it in the cold light of day and ask, is it safe to return or not?" said Morris.
"They will go with that advice assuming the situation in India does not deteriorate further. The players have full faith in Dickason and will be guided by him."
Rediff.com
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