NEW DELHI, Dec 7: England have selected uncapped fast bowler Amjad Khan to replace the injured Ryan Sidebottom for a proposed two-Test series in India, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Sunday.

In a statement on its website (www.ecb.co.uk) the ECB said the 28-year-old Danish-born bowler would replace Sidebottom who has been ruled out with a side strain.

Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid will also travel with the squad for the series due to start in Chennai on Thursday.

The England squad are in Abu Dhabi and will resume their aborted tour of India if a final ECB security assessment later on Sunday gives the clearance.

England called off the final two games of a one-day series and returned home after at least 171 people were killed in a three-day militant siege in Mumbai.

Khan received British citizenship in 2006 and was included in the England performance squad only to be sidelined last season following knee surgery.

Meanwhile, ECB managing director Hugh Morris and England Players’ Association chief Sean Morris left for Abu Dhabi on Sunday afternoon to hold discussions with the England team camping there on whether to tour India or not for the two-match Test series scheduled to start on Thursday.

After three sessions of discussions with police authorities here including state DGP and Chennai Commissioner of Police, both the Morrises had been given a detailed account of security arrangements in writing by the Tamil Nadu police.

”Hugh (Morris) has told us that he would talk to the players and the team management presently in Abu Dhabi and give the official communication before Monday morning,” Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) sources said.

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the December 11 to 15 first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium will start from Monday morning.

The TNCA has also announced that the ticket amount would be refunded in case of cancellation of the Test.—Agencies

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