Australia confirm India tour is on

Peter Young said despite some concerns Australia's tour of India will go ahead

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Australia’s tour of India will go ahead as planned although security around the team will be stepped up.

The four-Test trip had been in doubt after a series of bombs in New Delhi at the weekend which killed at least 20 and injured more than 90 others.

But Cricket Australia are satisfied the safety arrangements put in place are adequate and the players and support staff will leave for India as scheduled on September 21.

“Our advice is there are some concerns and to exercise caution, but currently they do not compromise the tour,” Cricket Australia general manager of public affairs Peter Young said.

Young stressed that the security situation in India is different to that in Pakistan where the ICC Champions Trophy had been due to currently be taking place.

He added: “We, and a whole series of other ICC nations, had the same advice that it wasn't safe to go to Pakistan (for the Champions Trophy).

"The Pakistan decision wasn't just a Cricket Australia decision. The ICC voted not to go ahead with that tournament.

"The process on Pakistan showed it wasn't safe."

He also denied that trying to mend relationships fractured during last summer's spiteful series between Australia and India played a part in the move to tour.

"The only consideration is player welfare. It's not just players but support staff that travel with the team as well," Young explained.

"We have a safety-first principle. We have a set of consistent processes which sit behind that principle and to an extent it's easy.

"You go through the process and if it tells you it's safe, you go. If it tells you it's not safe then you don't."

Security has already been tightened for Australia's A team, which is currently in India.

"We've been joined at the hip with the Australian Cricketers’ Association during this process," Young said.

"We have worked closely with the Australia A players who are already in India.

"The players there expressed a strong view that they wanted to stay and continue playing.

“Australia A players have also been told not to leave the hotel without good reason. It's just a matter of prudence.

"One thing I can tell you is they are very confident and comfortable with the processes we use when we go through these security issues."