Middlesex delay departure

Captain Shaun Udal has confirmed Middlesex will not travel to Mumbai for the Twenty20 Champions League, after terrorists launched a series of deadly attacks in the Indian city.

Terrorists opened fire at several locations within the city, killing 101 people and injuring 287.

It is a dire situation which has put the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League - involving Middlesex - in doubt.

Udal and his team were due to fly out to Mumbai this morning, and their first match of the lucrative competition was due to take place there a week today against Australian side Victoria Bushrangers.

Shaun Udal said Middlesex would not fly to Mumbai as planned following the attacks

Udal confirmed they will not fly out at 10am as planned in the wake of the attacks but insisted he expects the tournament to go ahead.

“It's not cancelled, we've been delayed in our departure from England," Udal told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We're just waiting for confirmation. As far as we know the Champions League Twenty20 will take place, the Mumbai leg will now take place in Bangalore.

"I just hope and pray now that everyone has a reality check and lets this cricket competition go ahead. It's just awful, it just defies belief what has happened."

Udal earlier said that the three group matches due to take place in Mumbai will be moved to Bangalore.

“We heard a couple of hours ago in light of the horrific things that have happened, that leg has been changed from Mumbai to Bangalore,” he told Sky Sports News.

The terrorists launched the attacks at several sites around the city - including two luxury hotels, the Oberoi and the Taj Mahal Palace.

The Taj Mahal Palace was besieged by fire, and it has been reported that hostages are being held in the five-star hotel.

Middlesex were due to stay at the hotel for their first match of the competition, and Udal is understandably relieved they were not caught up in the attacks - as they might have been, had they flown out earlier.

“What has made it particularly disturbing is the fact that we were going to stop at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel,” said the ex-England off-spinner.

Middlesex were due to stay at the Taj Mahal Palace where the terrorists were holding people hostage

“If we had gone 24 hours earlier then that would be the place where we would have been - so that’s really brought it home.

“That would have been the Middlesex team holed up there. It could have been us.”

Udal, saddened at the “catastrophic” events, insists he and his side will travel to India only if their safety can be assured.

“The main thing is that people are going on a trip out there with their families, and you just want to know that the people that go out there will come back,” he said.

“If we are told it is safe to go then we will go. We want to play, but there are more serious issues to consider.

“We have to consider all the options. I’m sure Middlesex will be in conversations with the Foreign Office throughout the night.

“If we are told everything is safe then we will go out there and entertain the Indian people and the people watching on TV.

“I hope we’ll make the right decisions - and they will be made as soon as possible.”