The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already shifted the Mumbai Test to Chennai after terror attacks in the western metropolis last week. The Chennai Test will start Dec 11 and Mohali will host the second from Dec 19.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wanted the venue for the first Test to be changed from Ahmedabad, which has also witnessed bomb blasts in July. They also requested swapping of the Tests matches.

'The ECB requested us to shift the Ahmedabad Test as they felt it was a sensitive area and the players would not have felt secured. So we have decided to change the venue to Mohali and it will be the second Test starting Dec 19,' BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told IANS Monday.

The England team cut short its trip midway through the one-day series and flew back home Saturday after terrorists attacks in Mumbai. And they are expected to be back in India either Thursday or Friday to fulfil their engagement, according to British media reports .

The ECB is in touch with the Indian and British ­governments, consulates in Indian cities, ­security advisers and other risk assessment experts in order to give the cricketers a thorough dossier on safety issues.

If the security reports suggest it is safe to return to India, an ECB spokesman confirmed the England team could be on a flight as early as Thursday, although the board will not want to be seen to rush into such a decision, reports the Guardian.

The ECB will present the players with a safety report and the resumption of the tour is likely to be officially confirmed Tuesday.