New Delhi: High-ranking Indian cricket officials are backing Mohali to remain the venue of the second test against England amid speculation the match could be shifted, again, due to security concerns.
The two tests were originally scheduled for Ahmedabad and Mumbai but were switched to Chennai and Mohali after the terror attacks in Mumbai that killed at least 171 people late last month.
Speculation that England was concerned about Mohali as a venue because of its proximity to the Pakistan border and a lack of direct flights to London intensified on Monday when its security consultant reportedly delayed an inspection, but regional and national officials have rejected concerns.
"The test matches are in Chennai and Mohali," Board of Control for Cricket in India chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told Hindustan Times newspaper on Tuesday.
Punjab Cricket Association president I S Bindra said he had not been informed of any push to move the second match from his ground "due to security or any other reasons."
"We are sure we can host the match with foolproof security," he said.
Bindra said Reg Dickason, the England and Wales Cricket Board's security expert, was due to inspect the Mohali venue on Tuesday, a day ahead of other ECB officials.
The first test will start Thursday at Chennai.
The England squad returned to India on Monday amid tight security 10 days after its tour was suspended — and two limited-overs internationals were canceled — to allow the team to fly home in the wake of the Mumbai shootings.
Chennai police plan to use 5,000 security personnel, including 300 commandos, to provide security cover for the cricket teams for the first test.
One thousand police will work to guard the hotel for a week before the England and Indian cricketers leave for Mohali on Dec. 16. Another 2,000 will be on duty at the Chidambaram Stadium.
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