Pieterson ready to return if security adviser says okay

“We can’t allow these cowards to run our game,” Pietersen wrote in Sunday’s ‘News of the World’.

“It puts it all into perspective when you see blood on the streets. But if Reg gives us the OK, then I’ll be back for the two Test matches and complete the tour.

“He has been around the block and I trust his judgement 100 per cent. If he says it is safe to go back to India for the First Test in 11 days, then you can count me in,” added the England captain.

Pietersen, however, made it clear that he would not force any teammate to join the touring party.

“It is a brutal situation and a world tragedy. So if any of the lads decide they don’t want to return, then that’s fine with me they have got wives and kids to think about,” he said.

Horrified by what he saw on television, Pietersen said it was a close shave for the English cricketers.

“We were on the team bus coming back from Cuttack when we heard news of the horrific slaughter of innocent people in Mumbai.

“We were 800 miles from the attack but suddenly we felt very vulnerable, especially as we had stayed at the targeted Taj Mahal Hotel just two weeks ago,” he said.

“We were due to go back there for the Second Test all our whites and blazers for the Test matches are still in there somewhere.