Team undaunted as the shadow of terrorism falls on world of sport

The spokesman talked ominously of "consequences" should the

tournaments, all hosted by India, go ahead.

In a message issued following a bomb attack on the Indian city of Pune at the weekend, Ilyas Kashmiri, the head of 313 Brigade, was quoted by Asian Times Online as saying: "We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India – if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences."

Middleton, a phlegmatic Yorkshireman, took the news with due calmness and carried on with his packing. "I'd still rather be going there than not bothering just because that is the easier thing to do," he said.

His view, common to the entire England squad, is that they face one of the greatest challenges of their career on the hockey field, and that, guided by advice from the security experts, the game goes on. They flew out to Qatar yesterday en route to India with nothing to worry about except facing hot favourites Australia in their opening match of the tournament, playing in the same feverish group as India and Pakistan, and experiencing hockey-besotted crowds a hundred times greater and a million times noisier than at home.

They will try not to think about being the "guinea pigs" for the massive and stringent security arrangements that will likewise apply to the Commonwealth Games when they are held in Delhi in October.

But, in the wake of a string of deadly terrorist interventions, there is no longer any such thing as a major sporting championship, especially on the sub-continent, where the only concerns are winning and losing. Not since the bomb blast in Mumbai in 2008 that left 173 people dead. Not since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore last March. Not since a bomb in a crowded market in Delhi killed three in September last year.

Sports teams are no longer mere competitors, they are potential targets as the warped exponents of terrorist causes seek headlines round the world.

England Hockey are the first team from this country to test drive the security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games in the Indian capital and Middleton is only too aware of the tightrope they must tread between caution and over-reaction.

"We've heard a few things. That we're guinea pigs for the Commonwealth Games, whatever. But I'm confident at the moment with what England Hockey have done. They have put a lot of effort into our security and – at the moment – we have no reason not to go.

"Obviously we face the fact that we're English, which might make us a particular target, but maybe that's just the impression we get from the media. It might be talked up to be more than it is.

"The players have talked about this among themselves, and with management, and with the security people who will be looking after us out there. We've agreed – unanimously – to go. People aren't happy about it. I'm not going to lie. In some ways, we would rather not go. But we're sportsmen, it's the World Cup, you can't not go.

"Some are more worried than others. Some people have families. Some of the younger guys just have to worry about themselves.

"My girlfriend (Beckie Herbert of the GB women's hockey team] is okay. As much as you can be, partly because she plays hockey for the national team herself. She understands."

For all but three of the England team, it will be the first time they have experienced the fervent passion of the crowds in India. That and the desire to play in the most significant event in the hockey calendar barring the Olympics themselves convinced all the players to take part.

Even so, they will travel with their own team of police liaison officers and the performance director, David Faulkner, confirmed that if they receive intelligence during the campaign that a serious and credible threat has been posed, "We will hit the button and come home immediately". The England Badminton team pulled out of their own World Championships in Hyderabad, Pakistan, last autumn due to what they described as "non-existent security".

"In the world we live in now, if we ignored expert advice, I don't suppose I would be able to live with myself," said Faulkner.

He went public last week with his frustration that the international hockey authorities had not yet confirmed the full range of security arrangements in place, but according to the New Delhi police chief describing the measures for the Commonwealth Games later this year, the plans are extensive and extremely tight. They include heli-borne assault teams, armed personnel on player buses, armed escort vehicles, commandos, snipers and there are even designs to provide the athlete's village at the Commonwealth with food tasters.

Faulkner confirmed that the arrangements have increased the cost of competing at the World Cup to England Hockey by 40 per cent. And somewhere in the middle of the flak jackets are 12 nations innocently preparing to do battle with hockey sticks.

"It has nothing to do with bravery," said Middleton. "Maybe when we get back we'll allow ourselves to think like that. But right now, it's just another tournament. We want to go, especially as we're reigning European Champions. It's an exciting time for the team. It could be the best thing we have ever done, it could be the worst – with all the issues that surround us, but we don't want to waste the six months of heavy training that we've done.

"For many of us, apart from the Olympics, this will be the biggest thing ever in our hockey careers. If everything goes well, there's no doubt it will be fantastic. It will be amazing. So different, especially for the guys who play back in England in front of 100 people. In India, there are going to be crowds of 20-25,000 going

crazy."

The New Zealand Hockey authorities have already stated their intention of delaying their arrival while the latest al-Qaida threat is assessed. But England, with advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, plus the High Commission in India, are heading to Doha for their pre-tournament preparation in the full hope of taking part.

"It's for our sake. We're happy to do it. If it's safe," said Middleton.

"It's a sad thing," said England Hockey's chief executive, Sally Munday. "We're talking about security, not about sport. But that's life in the current world."