LONDON, Oct 20: England’s cricket officials said Saturday they hoped a crisis meeting next week would defuse players’ fears over touring India this winter.

England are set to play three Tests in India before Christmas and return for a five-match one-day series in January. But with military action taking place in Afghanistan, several of England’s senior players have voiced doubts over safety.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have invited the British high commissioner to New Delhi, Rob Young, to address players and management early this week to clarify the situation on the sub-continent.

“We’re confident that we’ll be able to persuade the players that the situation in India is not quite as serious as certain people have been led to believe,” ECB chief executive Tim Lamb told the BBC.

“We do understand that players are apprehensive as this is a difficult and delicate situation, but that’s why we’ve called a meeting.

“We can’t force people to get on the plane but the meeting will hopefully make them more confident about going to India.”

The ECB sought reassurances on safety from their Indian counterparts at the International Cricket Council conference in Kuala Lumpur.

And they met Foreign Office officials in London before confirming the tour would go ahead, though neutral venues were also discussed by the ICC as an option should the situation escalate.

“There is no reason why the tour should not be on,” said Lamb. “But it’s our job to convince them it’s safe.”

England all-rounder Craig White was the first to break ranks Friday, insisting the risks were too high, while captain Nasser Hussain and senior batsman Graham Thorpe said the players would have to make up their own minds.

“The situation is that if there’s going to be retaliation, there’s no way they can guarantee our safety,” White told BBC Sport Online.

“I just think it’s a bit close to where it’s going off. I have got a wife and two kids and they don’t want me to go.” —AFP