Leicestershire captain Paul Nixon says England should go home

Leicestershire captain Paul Nixon says the England cricket squad should return home from India following Wednesday's terror attacks in Mumbai.

"There is a very good chance the guys could go home for something like this," the 38-year-old former England wicketkeeper told BBC Radio Leicester.

"I don't think it's worth staying over a game of cricket - it's a far bigger issue than cricket," he added.

Foxes skipper Nixon is in Ahmedabad playing in the Indian Cricket League.

He added: "Pakistan was called off a while ago and I think this will be pretty similar."

Cumbrian-born Nixon, who is playing for the Rest of the World XI and was due to fly to Mumbai on Sunday, said the team would now re-think their plans.

"We're a flight away, it's not around the corner but going home is something you've got to consider.


"All the guys will be having a chat to see what our thoughts are as a unit because we've got a lot of guys from around the world playing in this competition," he said.

Simon Jones, an Ashes hero in 2005, told BBC Sport a collective decision would be made.

He was part of a squad that controversially remained in Zimbabwe in 2004 despite President Robert Mugabe temporarily preventing journalists from entering the country.

Worcerstershire paceman Jones said: "It's obviously very scary with people dying out there, but I'm sure the boys will be advised by the appropriate people in charge of them regarding their security and then they'll make the proper decision.

"It will be a group decision, definitely - when we were in Zimbabwe we talked about what we were going to do when they stopped the Press coming in, so it's a team thing. I'm sure they'll sit down and have lengthy talks about it."

The England squad will remain 850 miles away in Bhubaneswar as the England and Wales Cricket Board continues talks with India officials.

The second Test match is scheduled to be played in Mumbai from 19 December.

Essex vice-captain James Foster told BBC Sport: "I'm assuming [the England players] have got a lot on their plate at the moment, obviously difficult times... horrific scenes that have been going on for the past 24 hours - but I'm pretty sure the ECB have got it all in place and under control."

He conceded it would be "a little tricky" for England to continue with the Test matches in India, adding: "I heard they might try to play the Tests in Dubai or something."