james sutherland, sutherland, india australia first test, australia's tour of india, hyderabad blast, australia india test series, cricket australia
“My expectation would be everything would go ahead as planned,” Sutherland said. -Photo by AFP

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia on Friday said it planned to play the second Test against India in Hyderabad as scheduled next week despite deadly bomb attacks in the city on the eve of the series opener.

The twin blasts on Thursday night killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more in the southern Indian city, raising questions over whether Australia would play the second Test starting on March 2.

“At this stage there is no reason to doubt that what we have planned in Hyderabad next week will go ahead,” said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who is with the team in Chennai.

“My expectation would be everything would go ahead as planned,” he said in a statement released as the opening match in the four-Test series got underway.

Sutherland said he was happy to continue to Hyderabad where the team is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

The team were “very comfortable” (with security), everything has gone absolutely to plan”.

“We will liaise with the relevant authorities over the course of next few days and make any necessary assessments, but the focus here right now in Chennai is around the cricket,” said Sutherland.

“The players are very focused on this Test... no one's indicated concerns at the moment.”

The CEO had earlier told Fairfax media that team manager Gavin Dovey had sent players text messages overnight updating them on the blasts and that security had been stepped up.

Dozens of extra police reportedly surrounded the Chennai hotel where the Australian and Indian teams are staying.

Captain Michael Clarke spoke for his players: “From the team's point of view, our focus is wholly and solely on the field because we've got people off the field who are experts in what is going on. We'll be advised by them,” he told Fairfax.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Hyderabad who have been affected.”

Australia pulled out of a tour to Pakistan in 2008 over security concerns after a series of bombings. They also refused to play any matches in the 1996 World Cup in Sri Lanka after bombings there.

Cricket Australia issued a snap statement after the Hyderabad blasts saying the safety of players was paramount but that it had “no information to suggest there is any threat to the team”.

The attacks targeted a Hindu district in the city, a hub of India's computing industry in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Australia condemned the bombings “directed at innocent people, going about their daily business.”

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he would write to his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid to express support for India's efforts to prevent terrorist attacks.

His department also warned Australians following the tour in India that terror attacks could happen anywhere.

“We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in India at this time because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and vehicle accidents,” it said.

“Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere at any time in India with little or no warning. Possible targets include public places in New Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities, and Indian security and political interests.”

No major international cricket has been played in Pakistan since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus by armed militants in Lahore in 2009.

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...