Indian cricket will bounce back: Waugh

Melbourne, Nov 29 (UNI) The terror attacks in Mumbai may have shocked the world, but former Australian captain Steve Waugh feels it will not affect cricketing activities in India.

The ghastly incidents have promted the England team to abandon the ODI series and has forced the postponement of the Twenty20 Champions League, but Waugh is confident that these are just short-term reactions and things will return to normal sooner rather than later.

''My gut feeling is that cricket will see an interruption in the short term but business will resume as normal shortly afterwards,'' Waugh wrote in a column for 'The Daily Telegraph'.

''The game of cricket in India is a way of life and a symbol of hope and, as such, it has the ability to restore faith and instill confidence.'' The former batsman also stated that the latest terrorist strike on Indian soil with make the country safer for travel since security will beefed up at public places.

''Perversely, after such a major incident India will probably be a much safer place to be than previously, for security will reach unprecedented levels at airports, five-star hotels and places where people congregate. But such is human nature that confidence will be hard to restore in the short term,'' he opined.

''Time is a great healer but, much like 9/11, life on the subcontinent will never be the same. The need for security will be paramount and this will affect all facets of life,'' he added.

However, Waugh was of the opinion that the Mumbai attacks will make life difficult for touring teams in the future.

''India is a country I love and respect and to see it teetering as a result of terrorism is particularly painful,'' he said. ''I have travelled to this amazing country that bombards and heightens your senses for the past 22 years and have frequented both the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels regularly. I have always felt safe and secure there.

''Sadly now this sense of innocence has been extinguished and touring life for future cricket teams will revolve around club sandwiches and in-house movies.'' UNI XC AB PY HS1639