Mohali was on Wednesday formally approved as the venue for the second cricket Test between India and England [Images] after getting the clearance from England and Wales Cricket Board's security experts.

The ECB's Managing Director Hugh Morris said Mohali will be the venue as they were "very satisfied" with the security arrangements, thus ending the speculation that the match could be shifted to some other venue.

Morris and the ECB's security advisor Reg Dickason inspected the stadium and hotel and held meeting with the top brass of Punjab and Chandigarh police and top officials of Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) before giving the final nod.

Indication that Mohali will remain the venue had come on Tuesday itself when Dickason started the process of assessing the security arrangements for the match.

Dickason held a series of meetings with PCA officials and security agencies after landing here from Chennai where the England team is preparing for the first Test beginning on Thursday.

Dickason was joined on Wednesday by Morris and the duo carried out a thorough inspection of the stadium and hotel.