Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain, says England's decision to resume their tour of India is based on nothing but greed.

The ECB announced yesterday that the squad would fly to India today to begin a two-Test series after being convinced that it is safe to tour the country in the aftermath of the Mumbai atrocities 12 days ago.

The players received a two-hour briefing in their hotel in Abu Dhabi, where they have been holding a training camp, and were persuaded by safety advisers that they will be given presidential-standard security during their fortnight-long stay.

In contrast to England's decision to go back to India, teams have refused to tour Pakistan since the political unrest which saw former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto assassinated last December. Australia indefinitely postponed a scheduled series in April this year, while the Champions Trophy was postponed after several teams refused to travel because of security concerns.

"Anything can happen anywhere and when teams can accept security assurances from the BCCI and government, why can't they do the same when the PCB and the government urges them to tour?" he asked. "The truth is no one can dare ignore the money India is putting into the game. It is nothing but greed."

Latif hit out at Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who recently said India was crucial for the game.

"I think Ponting should be honest enough to say that the cricket world needs India only because of its huge commercial market for the game," Latif said. "It has nothing to do with security.

"It is terrible the way the International Cricket Council and other boards are insisting on cricket resuming in India. What happened in Mumbai was terrible, but if teams can play in India why not in Pakistan?

"All this talk about security concerns by Australia and other teams now stands exposed. It is all about money and nothing else. If India didn't have the financial clout no team would bother to go there so soon after the Mumbai attacks."