The BCCI's plan to get England to play the Test series in the changed venues might suffer a setback.

By Rajarshi Gupta

Australia have pulled out of this month's squash world international doubles championships in India because of security concerns.

Chennai is one of the new venues proposed by the BCCI to the ECB as an alternative to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, which were originally scheduled to host the two-Test series.

The other venue packed in is Mohali.

With the Australian move coming at the wake of the ECB's security assessment of the Chennai and Mohali, the BCCI hierarchy might go through some sleepless nights.

England left India mid-way through the India tour after 10 gunmen held Mumbai at ransom for three days. Now, the Kevin Pietersen-led team has given glimmering hopes of returning only after the BCCI changed the itinerary.

The Aussie squash team's reluctance to tour Chennai will not go unnoticed. The BCCI had offered Chennai as a venue, precisely because it is seen as a relatively safe place in present day in India.

Strangely enough, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, according to British media reports, was also seen as a strong favourite for the upcoming series.

However, Cricket Association of Bengal president and former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, when contacted by Mobile ESPN said he would have been more than happy to host England and India in the Test series but he was not even aware of any official communication by BCCI officials.

The fact is. Kolkata is as safe as Chennai as a venue. The difference is, Chennai bears allegiance to T.Srinivasan and the PCA Stadium in Mohali has a certain IS Bindra as a honcho.

Both these names, as is common knowledge, command commendable clout in the BCCI. Dalmiya, on the other hand is not only estranged by the current establishment but is also seen as someone to be wary of.

No surprises why Kolkata slipped out and missed a chance to host a Test in a "safe environment."

Now, if the ECB decides to tread the Aussie line and avoid Chennai, what happens to the Test series? Does it stay put or will Kolkata then surface as an alternative. If then, why not now?

Chennai already had hosted as Test against South Africa earlier this year, while Kokata saw one a year back. Is there not a rotation policy in place for venue allocation?

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has told espnstar.com that India is as safe as the UK. What he would have meant was this.

Tricky wicket. The BCCI have left it to the ECB to take a final call. "We have proposed two venues to the ECB and now it is up to them to decide."

A few decisions could see little or no cricket in India over the next months. They had better be rock solid.