As per the new schedule proposed, the warm-up game (December 5-7) has been cancelled, and the series will now start with the first match at Chennai from December 11 to 15, followed by a Test in Mohali from December 19 to 23. But there are still some roadblocks for the England squad to return to India within a couple of weeks of their hasty departure, as BCCI secretary N Srinivasan clarified in his media release announcing the changed venues: “The England board will be sending their security consultant for discussions with the authorities in India before final clearance is given for the tour.”

After reaching home, several England players have expressed reservations about their safety in India in the wake of the terror strikes in Mumbai — a city that featured prominently on the tour itinerary. It is learnt that ECB will let the players take a final call on their availability for the tour.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the BCCI went out of their way in their backroom negotiations with ECB as they tried to save the series. Initially, the BCCI had opted to stick to the original schedule (Tests in Ahmedabad and Mumbai), but the ECB wasn’t too keen on that.

As a cancellation of the tour seemed likely, the BCCI softened their stance. Giving an idea about the talks between BCCI-ECB, the Indian board’s vice-president Rajeev Shukla said, “We’ve already changed the venues and even taken the matches to a different zone. From our side, India is as safe as England. As far as some players not willing to tour India is concerned, we can’t have any say in that. It’s ECB’s internal matter.”

‘Pick your dates’

More leeway was given to the ECB because of the uncertainty over India’s tour of Pakistan. Sources in the BCCI said that post-terror attacks the tour to Pakistan looked unlikely, giving the Indian team an unscheduled two-month break. “Since we’re aware that India will most probably not tour Pakistan, we were ready to host England whenever it suits them, even a little later if they like,” said a top BCCI official.

Besides, BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi had also said that the board wouldn’t be pressing for any compensation in case England didn’t return.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is busy preparing to host a visiting team once again. Within a month of the India-Australia Test, Mohali now gets a chance to stage another Test. PCA joint secretary GS Walia said, “Mohali has been allotted the second Test. We have formalised our preparations and hosting the Test at such short notice shouldn’t be a problem for the PCA.”

Giving more details, he added: “We were initially asked to host the first Test, but the PCA Stadium has been host to many games this year. We have to keep the dew factor in mind in winters, so hosting both the three-day as well as the first Test would’ve been very difficult. The date for the second Test match is a little farther, so we can make better arrangements. A lot of things such as security and ticketing also have to be taken care of. Foolproof security will be our top priority.”

Swann rules himself out

London: After Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, England spinner Graeme Swann too has developed cold feet and is reluctant to tour India following the terror strikes in Mumbai.

Swann said though he has full faith in security adviser Reg Dickason, who is yet to give a go-ahead to the tour, he was not particularly keen on returning to India for the two-match Test series.

“I wouldn’t be 100 per cent happy with going back, you know,” the off-spinner said.

“There’s a security report being compiled and I have every faith in Reg Dickason, if he comes back saying, ‘Look guys, it’s safe, we can go back there, we can do some good and get playing sport’ then I would go. But until that report comes back, certainly at the minute, I’m not that keen, to be honest,” the player told BBC.

Incidentally, pacer James Anderson is also likely to stay back to be with his pregnant wife.

Swann admitted, for a spinner trying to cement his place in the side, skipping the India tour might jeopardise his prospects but said cricket lost its importance to him after the Mumbai terror strikes.

“Obviously it’s tricky for people like myself who are trying to forge a regular place in the team. It comes down to thinking, ‘If I don’t go will I miss out on future selection’ and stuff like that, which sort of clouds the issue a little bit. It’s certainly not an easy decision to make and not one that anyone will be enjoying.