Gooch: England return to India 'doubtful'

Date released: 2 December 2008

Former England captain and record run-scorer at Lord's, Graham Gooch says the England team returning to India is 'doubtful' after the terrorist attacks there.

Gooch: 'England could be targets' Seapking on BBC FiveLive Gooch said: "I think it's in serious doubt.

"Cricket teams have been caught up in terrorist situations before but they've never been a target. It's been stated in this case that British and American passport holders were targets.

"You'd have to think, sadly, that an England cricket team and their supporters could be targets."

Speaking to the BBC's Garry Richardson, Gooch added that, now the players have returned home, pressure from family members could make it even more difficult for some players:

England captain Kevin Pietersen says 'no pressure' on players "Your family is a great influence - it's the most important thing in everyone's life.

"A young child saying to a father: 'Daddy don't go.' - it's a tremendous tug on the heart-strings.

"[Kevin] Pietersen has stated they won't force anyone to go. If players decide they're not in the right frame of mind to go, no-one is going to pressure them into it.

"Once you get one player doing that others, probably, will follow."