Former Indian players say England's fears baseless
Kunal Pradhan
England cricketers were accused on Thursday of exaggerating their fears of touring India next month in the wake of the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan.
The England Test team have been given until midday on Friday to make up their minds whether they will go to the subcontinent.
"It's a bit strange that England is behaving like this," said former Test medium-pacer Atul Wassan.
"They're making an unnecessary issue because England are always reluctant about coming to India since they don't enjoy playing here and always lose. They're trying to create a mountain out of a molehill."
India, inspired by leg-spinner Anil Kumble, beat England 3-0 at home on their last tour in 1992-93.
Former India off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna said India was safer than Britain.
"India is absolutely safe, certainly safer than Britain at the moment in my mind," Prasanna told Reuters from the southern city of Bangalore. "Whatever apprehensions England hold are wrong and a result of misinformation."
Former all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath agreed.
"England should come, they should not be worried. India is safe and sport must continue," he said.
Former Test batsman and national selector Ashok Malhotra, added: "People who are saying India is not safe are obviously people who don't know the facts. Sitting far away, they are probably getting a wrong picture.
Malhotra said reports that England could field a second-string side if several leading players defected were most disappointing.
"A weak England team coming may not be a good idea at all. Even their best team is going to find it hard to play us at home, so a weakened team's results will be disastrous," he said.
Several sports events planned for India have already become a casualty of the current global security crisis.
The first Afro-Asian Games, which was due to take place in New Delhi next month, has been put off indefinitely while the ATP world doubles tournament in Bangalore, also planned for next month, has been cancelled.
The inaugural Champions Challenge six-nation field hockey event planned for December 7-15 has been moved out of India by hockey's governing body.
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