Dickason defers Mohali inspection

Reg Dickason, the security advisor appointed by the ECB, has deferred his visit to inspect Mohali as a venue for the second Test between India and England by a day. Dickason was originally scheduled to arrive in Mohali on Monday evening, alongside Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, and Sean Morris, head of the England players' association.

The trio will now arrive on Tuesday and conduct an inspection of the PCA Stadium and the team hotel. They will then meet with various local officials, including ground, hotel and security personnel the following day.

"The visit of ECB security advisor Mr Reg Dickason has been postponed and the exact schedule of his visit has not been received," a statement from the Punjab Cricket Association said. IS Bindra, the PCA president, confirmed the postponement, though he didn't offer any reason for the delay. "They will arrive tomorrow," Bindra said. However, he brushed aside doubts about Mohali as the venue for the second Test, due to begin from December 19. "The Test will take place in Mohali," he said.

Dickason will be in Mohali from Tuesday to Thursday and will have meetings each day. He went to Abu Dhabi on Sunday night to brief the England team, a trip which delayed his arrival in Mohali.

Late on Sunday the ECB had announced England would travel to India for the two-Test series with a full-strength England squad. They stopped short, however, of confirming Mohali as the venue for the second Test, as officials hadn't had time to inspect the venue.

"It's purely a time-frame thing. Once the players are in Chennai the security guys will be doing all of the checks [in Mohali]. There are a couple of small details we need to sort out. Then hopefully it will go ahead," Sean Morris had told Sky Sports News on Sunday.

Delhi and Bangalore are in line as alternatives should Mohali not be cleared. England are due to land in Chennai on Monday evening for the two-Test series which starts on December 11.