Dickason begins Mohali inspection

With the England team in Chennai for the first Test, ECB officials - including Reg Dickason, the security advisor - have carried out preliminary meetings in Mohali over the viability of staging the second Test there from December 19-23.

A decision on the Test is not expected before Wednesday, when the officials will be joined by Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, and England players' union chief Sean Morris, but officials of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) are confident the clearance remains a formality.

Dickason arrived in Mohali around mid-day and held separate talks with PCB officials and senior police officers. "It was a preliminary meeting to review the security arrangements," Dickason said. "A detailed meeting will be held tomorrow."

IS Bindra, the PCA president, said a final decision would be taken on Wednesday once Dickason inspects the ground and holds further meetings with the ground and security personnel, among others. "Once they give the final nod we will start selling tickets," Bindra said. The PCA, he said, was confident of fulfilling Dickason's security requirements and would provide "foolproof security for the match."

Bindra rubbished reports that England were unhappy with Mohali, especially its proximity to Pakistan and lack of an international airport. "It was the ECB who were keen to play at Mohali," he said. "The PCA was a bit hesitant initially since the season was over and laying a new wicket was also not easy. Despite the short notice we have done the needful so that the match can be conducted smoothly."

The BCCI has ruled out, at least for the moment, the possibility of shifting the Test from Mohali. Mohali was picked as the venue for the Test instead of Mumbai, the original venue. "Mohali was always officially the venue for the second Test as far as the BCCI was concerned and that stands," Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo.