Mumbai Terror Attack: Barmy Army want Eng to return for Test series

London: The Barmy Army, the England cricket team’s fan club, want the England players to do “everything in their powers” to return to India for the Test series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), after consultations with the England players and after negotiations with the BCCI, have decided to abandon their tour of India, after terrorists struck at various places in Mumbai.

England were scheduled to feature in seven one-day internationals and two Test matches, but have now abandoned their seven-match ODI series after five matches. No decision has been taken yet on the Test series, and ECB Managing Director Hugh Morris has said a decision on the Test series will be taken after consultations with securty agencies.

Paul Winslow, a spokesman for Barmy Army, said while he understood the players’ decision to abandon the one-day series, he was hoping they would do everything to return to India for the Test series.
He said, “It is worth remembering that just a few weeks after the 7/7 attacks we sat at Lord’s watching England play.

“I only hope everything is done to try and make this tour happen, not just for our fans but for everyone in Mumbai.

“London did not grind to a halt in 2005 so why should they?

“The overwhelming point for me is that we are all intending to go ahead with our trips to Mumbai.

“There is an argument that if the fans can go, so should the players.

“This first decision (to cancel the one-day matches) would appear understandable, but I think the ECB should consider its position very carefully before thinking about cancelling the entire tour.”

According to existing schedules, England are scheduled to play two Tests – one in Ahmedabad from December 11, and the second in Mumbai from December 19.