Players may reject revised tour - Cork

Dec 3 2008

The England and Wales Cricket Board are thought to be close to accepting tightened security arrangements for the resumption of the tour to India - but former player Dominic Cork claims as many as six of Peter Moores' squad will not return and are "traumatised" by their experience.

The ECB have been locked in talks surrounding the future of the two-Test tour, which was put in doubt by the team's departure on Saturday to reassess the situation following the campaign of terror on Mumbai's leading landmarks, which caused the two remaining one-day internationals to be postponed.

"I've spoken to players and they are very upset and feel they wouldn't be able to go out and play cricket in India," Cork told Radio Five Live.

The ECB are thought to be close to agreeing a revised itinerary - including a stop-off and warm-up match in Abu Dhabi - pending Reg Dickason's security assessment.

But Cork insisted a host of unnamed key players are unwilling to travel in the current climate.

"I know of at least five or six players who are going to turn their backs on England," he added.

"Those I've spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on television was 10 times worse than what was shown here.

"I am not sure about the captain (Kevin Pietersen). I know of certain players who are going to put their families first."

Cork also believes that if any of the playing staff do not want to tour on safety grounds, the team should not go to India at all.

"If one doesn't go, they all shouldn't go. They should make a stand and say 'it's not safe for us to be there'," he added.