Pietersen admits test doubts

England began their trip back home away from the troubles in India with captain Kevin Pietersen admitting he does not know whether they will return for the Test series.

The tourists announced on Thursday they would be flying back to London because of security concerns regarding the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, with a view to returning for the Test series, which is due to start in Ahmedabad on December 11.

But Pietersen has admitted the future of the tour has still to be resolved and said: "I haven't a clue (whether we'll come back) and we'll have to get all the logistic stuff sorted first but the decision to go back to London will buy us some time and if we need to fly back to India on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next week then so be it."

He added: "Right now, all we want to do is go home because of what we've seen and the fact we've woken up this morning and the saga is still continuing in Mumbai.

"The guys were happy as anything in Mumbai in the two weeks we were there. The way of life in Mumbai is fantastic and that way of life, which is the best way of life in India, has now gone.

"I bet all the guys lost a whole battery on their mobiles yesterday with calls from friends and relatives and kids wanting to know where daddy is. It's a real situation and we're being taken out of the situation and we'll make a decision on it over the next 48 to 72 hours."

Before that decision is made, assurances over the team's security will have to be given and England have instructed security advisor Reg Dickason to report on the situation in India before any possible return.

But with lucrative television contracts tied into the Test series, Pietersen expects pressure to be applied by the BCCI for England to return - even though it has been confirmed the venue for the second Test has been moved down south to Chennai.

"It will be a security decision and then we'll be guided by the ECB," confirmed Pietersen. "Reg is going to come back here and he'll ring me and tell me what's going on.

"I do think the BCCI will make every single effort to get us back here playing Test match cricket in India. There are TV rights and financial considerations and they run world cricket don't they? But we will not come back to this country if it's not safe. My life means more to me than anything else and I won't come back if it's not safe."