India safe for foreign players: Symonds

Greg Chappell and Andrew Symonds may have had bitter-sweet relationship with the Indian fans but the Australian duo today said cricketers should not have any safety concerns about playing in India.

At a time when terror threats and the recent blasts in Pune have the foreign cricketers apprehensive about playing in the third edition of the Indian Premier League, Symonds said he would turn up for the Deccan Chargers with no fear at all.

"I haven't heard a great deal as yet but India is one of those countries I've never felt intimidated, even when the crowd gets a bit uppity," said Symonds, who was taunted by the Indian fans during Australia's 2007 tour of the country.

Symonds said he felt safer in India than in South Africa where Deccan Chargers won IPL II last year.

"I've always felt I was more likely to be shot or stabbed in South Africa. I've never felt like that in India. At this stage I'll be going," Symonds was quoted as saying by an Australian Associated Press (AAP) report.

Chappell, who won more enemies than friends as India coach, had a similar view.

Conceding the terror threats do make it difficult for the players to take a call about playing in IPL, the former Australia captain said, "You have to be concerned about it, I don't think you can afford not to.

"But Indians in general are not confrontational people, I found them very open and friendly. It would be a shame if sport was cowered by these type of people," he said.