England threaten boycott of Mohali Test

The England and Wales Cricket Board has said that its team will pull out of the first Test against India if Virendra Sehwag plays in the match.

ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin said: "We will not play a friendly Test match. We are there to play real cricket. We support the ICC in the fact that he [Sehwag] has been suspended for one Test match. He did not play in South Africa in a match that was not recognised by the ICC, so he has one match to sit out."

MacLaurin added: "We will not be playing a match with a banned cricketer in it but we sincerely hope that doesn't come to pass and that the dialogue going on between the Indian board and the ICC will resolve the issue."

MacLaurin said it is "very sad" that the Centurion Park Test had already been lost and if the situation is allowed to continue it would be sad "for the game of cricket around the world".

He made a pointed reference to the ICC meeting in Malaysia in October, when the Indian representatives had agreed to the game's ruling body taking a "firmer view" of on-field standards.