India deserve England's support, says Botham

Sir Ian Botham believes England have made the right decision to go back to India despite the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Kevin Pietersen's team will fly to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for a training camp while they wait for security checks to be carried out in Chennai, where the first Test of the two-Test series is due to start on December 11.

If the security meets England's expectations the series will go ahead, but legendary all-rounder Botham, a former Test skipper, is convinced they have no choice but to return because it is crucial to show solidarity with India.

"I believe that if you don't go then you're letting India down," he told the BBC.

"I think it's a matter of us all standing together, it's not India's problem, it's a world problem.

"India have bent over backwards, they're desperate for England to go back, and I think we need to show some unity and hopefully continue life as normally as possible.

"It's exactly the right attitude. It is common-sense prevailing. What went on in Mumbai was hideous and horrendous but the best way to address it is for the players to go out there and play cricket.

"We have had our own disasters over here. There have been atrocities going on all over the world and we can't give in to these people. We have to move forward."

Meanwhile, England seamer Amjad Khan insists he has no fears about returning to India with the performance squad.

Khan, one of the nine-strong performance squad, who will travel with England's 14-man first team squad, told Sky Sports News: "I think you have got to leave it up to the people who know the security and know the risk.

"Listening to them and returning was probably the best decision at that time. I didn't have too many quarrels about that.

"If it was up to me I would definitely go back, if all the security is in place and the ECB and people in charge feel happy.

"I do not believe we will go back there if it is not safe. If it is safe and it is expected that we return, I will return."

LONDON, Thursday, AFP