We have no real security concerns for Moeen, Rashid: ECB

London, Nov 3 (IANS) England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) security advisor Reg Dickason on Thursday dismissed security concerns for Pakistan-origin players Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in the squad during the five-match Test rubber in India, because of the political tension in the country.

Dickason said Moeen and Rashid had not expressed any desire to opt out of the series.

Earlier, it was also reported that Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has been withdrawn from the England series due to security reasons but an International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman denied the reports saying Dar was "not appointed" for India series as he was already nominated for the Australia-South Africa Test series.

"We have no real concerns but we're certainly aware of the issues Aleem Dar has. I know it was reported that he wasn't going, that he'd been pulled out, but according to the ICC he's just been rostered at another event," Dickason was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.

"But Shiv Sena had some issues with Aleem there and went to the BCCI offices. So we're certainly aware of that but we don't expect any real issues. I've spoken to him and Adil and they seem ok to me. They haven't expressed any doubts to me," he added.

Dickason also expressed his satisfaction over the security plans drawn up for the players.

"It'll be similar to Bangladesh but a different layout. It was very overt here and it won't be as overt in India. The road clearances that we got here that are usually reserved for heads of state we probably won't get in India. But we'll get adequate transit protection," he said.

"The BCCI get a host-city security plan which is a generic issue from a master security plan which is put across the whole event. There will be some subtle differences but it won't be too many," he added.

The first Test between the two nations will be played at Rajkot from November 9.

--IANS

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