Commandos to guard England team

London: England's tour to India will be given the go-ahead after the Indian government agreed to provide a crack commando guard for the team. The squad will fly to Abu Dhabi today where they are expected to play a warm-up match before proceeding to India for the first Test, which is due to begin on December 11.

When they arrive in India, England will be guarded by the same Marine commando force - the Indian equivalent of the SAS - that stormed the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay (Mumbai) last week.

They will provide "presidential-level" security after the Indian authorities agreed to England and Wales Cricket Board security demands, which also include an emergency evacuation plan that would enable the team to quickly leave the country in the event of another terrorist attack.

Reg Dickason, the ECB's security expert, arrived in India yesterday and is currently touring the two Test match venues - Chennai and Mohali - to ascertain if they can provide the kind of unprecedented level of security cover the board are demanding.

The ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association were on Tuesday locked in talks with the Foreign Office. The players will make their final decision in Abu Dhabi after reviewing Dickason's security report. Andrew Flintoff is still thought to harbour major reservations about the trip along with fast-bowling colleague Steve Harmison.

With Ryan Sidebottom struggling with injury, it brings into question the value of a second-string England side.

In his column today, Geoffrey Boycott accuses the ECB of lacking moral judgment in deciding to continue with the tour.

He writes: "Given what has just happened in India, it is monstrous for the ECB even to be thinking about sending the team back out again. The whole idea just seems disrespectful, insensitive and immoral."

Dickason, meanwhile, met police and cricket authorities in Chennai, where it has been proposed the first Test will take place from December 11-15.

"Based on the discussions held and the clarifications given, BCCI expects no problem with the first Test being held in Chennai," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement.

Chennai police commissioner K. Radhakrishnan said Dickason was happy with the planned security arrangements for the Test match.

"He expressed satisfaction," Radhakrishnan said. "A central access control system will be installed at vantage points, the players' viewing area and also at the team hotel." Radhakrishnan said the players would be advised to restrict their movements outside the hotel.

"The police will provide extra security at the stadium," he said. "The players' protection will be watertight."