ECB clears doubts over Ind-Eng ODI schedule

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) Clearing all speculations over the Guwahati one-dayer between India and England on November 29, the ECB said the match is on as per schedule.

There were apprehensions over the fate of the one-dayer after Guwahati was rocked by serial blasts on October 30.

In fact, the blasts led to the postponement of the Bengal-Assam Ranji Plate Group league opener on November 3. But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has no plans to assess the situation in Guwahati.

''The ECB has made no plans to send a security team to Guwahati ahead of the scheduled ODI match,'' stated an ECB statement to mediapersons.

The ECB is in constant touch with the British High Commission in India and with the BCCI and has no plans to change the venue.

''As is our policy during all tours involving England teams, we will continue to monitor security arrangements on an ongoing basis and remain in close contact with both British High Commission in India and the BCCI,'' the ECB said.

Meanwhile, hosts Assam Cricket Association (ACA), today assured of strong security measures for the tie. ''I have talked to BCCI officials and they have assured there will be no cancellation of the match on security grounds,'' ACA secretary Bikash Barua said.

However, high-level meeting with top police and security officials on November 7 to review the security arrangements at the Nehru Stadium, the venue for the ODI are also in process.

''We are also in touch with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to ensure that the match is carried out successfully,'' Barua added.

However England coach Peter Moores said, ''We are going to India and have we learned a lesson? I think in many ways we have in that you can never lose focus on the game. We played against a very hungry and disciplined side and we lost. Looking back on it now, we will be stronger and wiser for it,'' Moores was quoted as saying by a local daily.

England slumped to a humiliating 10-wicket loss against Stanford All-Stars in the winner-takes-all Twenty20 Super Series bankrolled by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford.

The team now takes on India in a seven-match ODI series starting November 14.

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