England will fly into Abu Dhabi on Thursday to begin preparations for the two-Test series in India, according to a report in the United Arab Emirates.

The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi claims England will train and play a warm-up game before flying to Chennai ahead of the first Test on December 11.

A source told the newspaper: "We will be taking nothing for granted and security will be very tight."

Nasser: Return for Tests

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has called on Kevin Pietersen to take his squad back to India and fulfil their Test commitments.

England's one-day series was curtailed and the tourists flown home following last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai which claimed almost 200 lives.

He wrote in the Daily Mail: "We owe it to them to go back and play, as long as every precaution has been taken."

MacLaurin has sympathy

Former ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin insists he would have every sympathy with any England player who decided not to return to India.

Talks are still taking place to decide if the two-Test series will go ahead after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Lord MacLaurin told Radio Five: "I do not think anybody has a duty to go back. I fully understand some players might think it is a step too far."