I am not so sure that terrorists are particularly impressed by a show of normalcy - it is the consolation of those who have been attacked to believe that by carrying on as before they are thumbing a nose at those who would disrupt their lives. Terrorists don’t deal in symbols, they deal in death, their own and that of as many people as they can kill. It is not as if they or their leaders sitting far away say, “Our Mumbai mission has been a failure because England and India are playing a Test match anyway.”

Sport does have the power to unite people especially in times of disaster. By the same argument, it has the power to make people forget. And therein lies the danger. We ought not to forget. We ought not to pretend that things are honky-dory when they aren’t. Also, a Test series in which the players’ hearts and minds are not involved is no good for the game.

There is something to be said for the morale-boosting effects of normalcy on the public, of course. But at what cost?

Those who have made the argument for England returning for the Tests - a surprisingly large number of Englishmen have said they should - feel they owe it to the Indian people who have suffered. This is a noble sentiment, but irrelevant in a larger sense. A nation has suffered, and the national debates cannot be sidetracked by issues of whether India should play three seamers or two. Cricket has the power to make us forget, but we ought not to forget. Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it.

The Indian board’s fear of losing its primacy in world cricket is a real one. That is the only way to understand some of the more insensitive comments made by its vice-president, Lalit Modi. Millions of dollars are at stake, especially in the Twenty20 versions like the Champions League and the IPL, and when he says “we shouldn’t allow such attacks to disrupt our determination”, it is not difficult to read between the lines.

Depending on which side your bread is buttered you can see a resumption of the series as a way of expressing solidarity with the people of India or telling them that in their hour of need we shall continue to laugh and play as usual. Luckily, in recent years, the views of players are being sought before a cricket board makes a decision. The England and Wales Cricket Board has been bullied by the Indian board of late, but not even Modi can tell them which players to pick. If England are forced to return, and come without some of their top players, we will understand.

Only the other day an official was screaming on TV that India should not tour Pakistan because he could not conceive of the consequences “if a single hair on Tendulkar’s head” was touched. Kevin Pietersen’s hair deserves the same consideration.

you are right. everyone knows what kind of determination Mr Modi is talking about. We need another kind of determination right now. England have every right not to come back if they don't feel secure. It is true that we shouldn't be afraid of terrorists, but at the moment, it is equally important to have our focus on the security and lives of 1 billion rather than 22.

Absolutely spot on. These are times which call for caution than bravado. Those who are calling for cricket in these times, should try and put themselves in the shoes of the many who were held as hostages in that hotel in Mumbai. Cricket after all is only a game and is not worthy of taking a gamble. Let the situation calm down before any cricket is played.

By saying that, carte blanche is not given to any board to decide to put India or Pakistan permanently under a black list. ICC should call for a consensus, after things have stabilised and appoint a security commission whose findings must be respected by all the boards.

I understand the fear of life from a players perspective, playing in a place far from their own country, and when they fear they aren't sure if the security situation in the country which they are playing is not good. It has happened to Pakistan and it is now to INDIA. The security situations in their country, and frequent requests from other countries to move out the one-days and test matches to neutral venues has led the PCB to lose its revenue and now is in the path of WICB(for other reasons). The govt. and the security agencies are striving hard to control and eliminate these kind of attacks. However, we cannot say which place on our world would be affected, INDIA is not only place to witness such attacks.The life is should go on, bearing the marks of such BLACK days in our lives, for no one can't think of a thing of such scale to happen and to survive. We move from the dark night to bright day, but this farce was darkest 60 hours of all our people living in INDIA.

It is upto the cricketers. But to their famillies, loved ones, friends back in England would rather see them back home. Modi's comments are really insensitive.

Every word spelt out in this article is true in letter and spirit. The spirit of the game, spirit of the nation and spirit of the people.True that sports has a great power to unite people and make them forget. Forget they should, that cricket is larger than life, forget they should that cricket is a religion. Remember, reiterate and reinforce the spirit that, those who perteptrated this ghastly act cannot succeed in their motive to instill fear. The game should be played to demonstrate the resolve that all nations can not only fight pitched battles on the ground but also fightas one against this faceless and cowrd enemy.
England should return and play the Test series not because India is a safer country that Pakistan but because India is a saner country than Pakistan.Not because Tendulkar's hair is more precious than Kevin's but because not playing would be playing into the hands of that facelss remorseless coward.The game must be played because the spirit of Humanity is far superior.

Sometimes I really wonder at the Indian mentality.Even in this sad time and this sombre article, the indians like Dharmakirthi is not letting an opportunity go without taking a swipe on Pakistan. We sympathize with you on your loss, the hair of any human is precious- whether a tendulkar or a Pieterson or anyone else. We feel your pain but it doesn't seem you have the courtesy of feeling ours.Don't belittle yourself by doing the blame game or pointing fingers- like ladies quarrelling in street. I dont want to offend any indian but please show respect to our sufferings as well.

There's no point in false bravado. Just imagine, if any of the English players are indeed targeted, then what follows? As an Indian, I'd rather not host the English team just as yet. However, if the tour must go on, now or later, it must be for purely cricketing reasons. What I hate most from a cricketing perspective is that England was getting a real walloping here and now they have got a 'convenient'(no offense meant) exit. If they do come back, I hope they do so in order to get that record straight, not for the sake of any bravado.

As for the power of sport to heal, let us not underestimate that. Just look at the thaw in relations between the Indian and Pakistani public. Cricket, at least to my understanding, and at least upon myself, has had the most profound influence in changing the perspective with which we perceive our friends from across the border.

Suresh, excellent article. We need time to heal from the pain. This series would be too much too soon. Cricketers are being asked to heal the nation's pain, but its too much to ask them to do so. I don't feel sorry at all for Modi. Indeed I hope he realises now that there are things in life which are bigger than cricket and money. The series should not go ahead, as a mark of respect to the hundreds who died, not as a submission to the terrorists.

Lalit modi or indian board is not cocerned about sachin's or kevin's hair or head. They need money to fill their pockets and want power. Millions suffer, who cares?Modi's "detemination" to be praised. A national commendation award should be offered. Go to hell BCCI let the people of India grieve and let thm come through this difficult period.You modis and powars stay at secured venues, relax with imported wines and luxury which is provided by the poor and suffering Indian public. Goto hell BCCI and Modi.

A good article, but as usual India will start hosting games games, its only Pakistan which is always singelled out. In Karachi, Faislabad, lahore and Multan, things are calmer yet teams still refuse to tour. An incident like Mumbai has not happened in Pakistan, but still India will win as its the most richest Cricket Board. Now countries should think and analyse that terrorism is a global problem and it needs to be dealt with internationally. By pointing fingers towards groups and countries is not going to help.

Well said. I was very disappointed at some comments of the public when Fleming and the Black Caps came back from I think it was Sri Lanka, but why should anyone be forced to stay/go somewhere they don't feel safe? It's not worth risking lives for the sake of sport. Harbajahn Singh made some good comments on TV about this not being the right time for entertainment.

To Mr Dharmakirthi::

Even after such an incident, the best conclusion you can think of is that Eng should tour india coz india and Pakistan situation is different.
Well perhaps its time to step out of ur daydreaming coz all the western countries jumping over each other to tour india before 26th nov was for the money they saw in it....
But not now.... This new found love of india and the west was based on monetary grounds.
and How dare you assume that India is a saner country than others... do you have some moral authority to unlease this country standing out of ur magic hat.
Hope this Mumbai incident makes indians realise of other people's despair and pain too.
When people were burning in Marriot, ISBD atleast i didnt see even one indian condemning the incident. Atleast i have the courage to stand up and say Killing innocent people whereever they may be is barbaric and inhumane.
hope GOD punishes those involved even if they are muslim like me amen.

Suresh,
Nothing, I repeat, nothing is more important than a single human life, be it Indian, Pakistani, British, American et al. Playing Cricket to show that "Look at us. We are normal and can now discuss whether we should go in with 3 seamers or two" is totally wrong in this very sad and bleak time. Let us all introspect and shun celebrations of any type, be it a victory over England or Christmas or New Year.
There seems to be very little doubt that the perpetrators came through the sea route from Pakistan. But that does not make Pakistan responsible for this. No way. Pakistan has suffered as much and more with this type of terrorism. The visuals at Marriott were no less horrifying and heart-rending than those at Taj. The average Pakistani, I know quite a few, is as normal and peace-loving as the average Indian.
As far as Mr.Lalit Modi is concerned, we reached the pits the day he unfortunately became the voice of Indian Cricket. He represents everything one can loathe and despise.

I respectfully disagree.

Like all Indians and human beings around the world, I am outraged. I can't wait to do something against the perpetrators.

But in order for us not to forget (or forgive), EVERYONE should do their part. Politicians must act, security forces must act, the media (and folks like yourselves) can make sure we don't forget, and collectively we should go after the terrorists where they are, their finances, their supporters, their structure. And ensure they are exterminated.

Continuing on doesn't mean we are forgetting & moving on, but making sure we don't cave in - which is what the terrorists want. But what we should do is to make sure we all accept & live with the sacrifices - more security, more checks, maybe a national ID card for everything, longer lines for getting in & out of public spaces, other such 'inconveniences' - but continue we must, for India to emerge stronger and greater.

I apologize to my Pakistani brothers on behalf of my Indian brothers who stated that "India is saner country than Pakistan" or drew irrelevant comparisons and conclusions. This is not to offend anybody, nor to appease anybody. This is just an appeal to please forgive each other and focus on practicising and inculcating humane culture in our world. I'm an Indian and a hindu, and a punjabi and I feel equally appalled at the loss of innocent life in this country or that country. Somehow, I'm getting sucked into an impression that the concept of Nations/Countries/Nationalities is becoming the root cause for all the conflicts. And ironically, the color of blood spilled anywhere on this planet, is still Red! I wish there are no countries and I pray that there remains no religion. A day, when no human being will berate his fellow on basis of man-made concepts. my heart bleeds, and my eyes are getting blurred... i dont want to differentiate, i dont want to take sides. pakistani=brit=indian=aussie=humans

It is absolutely necessary that we do not point fingers at each other, especially in this time of crisis. When such acts of terrorism occur the first thing that is tested is the trust and solidarity of average human beings. Like many of my friends wrote here, it is critical that we do not given in and do not let the terrorists win! if we become enemies of each other who will die?? The Manmohans the Zardaris the Modis the Premiers will not die, we middle class, hard working, cricket loving and peace loving normal people will die! If Pakistan and India go to war, the only people who will be affected is you and me. The elite has no country nor they have a heart for people like us! So i plea and urge my Indian friends, to change their perception about Pakistan. We are not the kind of people we are portrayed as on he television or media. Come to Pakistan and you would know, that we also are normal people who fear God, dark, terror, guns etc. we have 2 arms 2 eyes, 2 legs also, we are humans

Do we know why Eden Gardens was still not considered as an alternate venue? That may be the only incentive that could lure England back to play these tests with a full-strength team.

To all those who are saying that England cricketers should continue the tour because of its significance, we get the point but ultimately it is the cricketers and their families who have to decide. It is unfair to ridicule them and their families for deciding against touring. You know it is a very personal feeling. You may interpret this as been disrespectful and may feel hurt or build hatred against us. The whole episode is not enjoyable for us either.

Very nice article.In fact my question is that if India's tour can go ahead, even though the attackers were specifically targeting foreigners, then why these international teams refused to visit Pakistan. As far as Pakistan's attacks are concerned, they are not targeted so why such difference of intentions.Should I say, its because India is more powerful and offers more money to cricketers.