Ganguly keen to calm Hussain's security fears

Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly is certain that a quick phone call between himself and Nasser Hussain is all that's required to allay any fears the England captain may have about touring the Sub-Continent.

In an article published in Friday's Daily Express newspaper, Ganguly said he was worried that some England players had expressed doubts about this winter's test tour to India, the first by the country for eight years.

"I haven't spoken to Nasser or any of the England players recently, but if they call me I'll tell them not to worry about a thing," the paper quoted Ganguly as saying from his hotel in South Africa where India are currently touring.

"If there is a security problem for England, then there will be one for us because we stay in the same hotels and fly on the same planes. But we are not worried about security at all," he added.

Hussain has said the tour -- scheduled to start on November 13 -- should not happen unless tension in the region eases, while star batsman Graham Thorpe suggested that players were worried about the political climate.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday that the tour was still on and there was no reason why it shouldn't go ahead.

The British Foreign Office has advised Europeans to keep a low profile after the U.S.-led bombing of Afghanistan campaign began following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

"I'm sure our board and our government would not allow the tour to take place if there were any danger. England will get the best security ever...they will probably be safer in India than in England," Ganguly said.

The Indian team have been shocked by what they see as an over-reaction by some England players to the events in Afghanistan and Ganguly added: "Our Test grounds are a long way from the troubles."

Mail Cricket Editor