Mumbai attacks mean cricket is immaterial

Wednesday’s attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai have left over a hundred people dead and at least three hundred injured. The attackers targeted several sites across the city, notably the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where a large number of Westerners were staying. The location is significant for the fact that the current touring England cricket team were due to stay there in the coming weeks, as were the Middlesex team, participating in the inaugaral Champions League.


Cricket is used to being on the back pages and although it is hardly the centre focus in this story, there is only one option that can be taken - send them home. As much as sport is a healing power in this world, where eastern and western cultures can combine to play a competitive game, there comes a time when safety is premium.


The second a touring party feels there is any danger to their personnel then it is time to send them home. Yes, the contest would be ruined and the sporting attraction would be over but when it comes to human life, there can be no excuses. This event is particularly close to home in that the team were due to stay at the very hotel that was attacked. Have we reached the stage where we send our sportsmen overseas like we send our soldiers to war, praying for their safe return?

This incident is not the first one of cricketing safety. The recent Champions Trophy was postponed as the security climate in the host country Pakistan was deemed unfit by nearly all countries. Australia and West Indies recently declined to tour Pakistan because of the same reason. It seems most countries will see sense and pull out of touring should there be any kind of risk to players.


The England situation is different in that the team is halfway through playing a series. However, there is no sense in risking their lives for a game. Leicestershire wicket keeper Paul Nixon, who is currently in India playing in the ICL, says England should pack up and head home immediately and it is hard to disagree with him. The financial and commercial costs may indeed suffer but safety comes first.

It is not often sport and terrorism are mixed. And that is exactly how it should be. If England extend their stay in India to encompass the scheduled Tests then there is something dramatically wrong with the organisers in the England camp. Do them and their families a favour - bring them home. They’re sportsmen, not soldiers.