LONDON, Oct 23: England cricketers were given a Friday deadline to make themselves available for next month’s tour of India after a decision was taken Tuesday to go ahead with it.

At a Lord’s press conference, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Lord MacLaurin said the tour was going ahead but that players will be allowed to choose for themselves whether or not to take part.

Players will make their availiability known to England representative and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) managing director Richard Bevan by noon local time (1100GMT) Friday.

England’s chairman of selectors David Graveney, who is also chief executive of the PCA, has already been at pains to point out that any players who decide not to travel will not have it held against them when it comes to selecting future England squads.

MacLaurin, recently returned from an International Cricket Council executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur, insisted Tuesday the tour was still on.

“I am pleased to confirm once again that as things stand at the moment there is no reason why the England tour of India should not go ahead as planned,” he said

That followed a key meeting between the 16 players selected for the tour, ECB officials and British High Commissioner in Delhi Sir Rob Young.

Several players had expressed concern for their personal safety in light of the ongoing US air attacks on nearby Afghanistan.

“We started off by saying at the start of the meeting that there had been a lot of speculation in the media about the tour to India and whether it is a safe country to be touring,” Lamb added.

“We felt that it was essential that if anyone selected for the tour had a problem with it in any way that should be on the table this morning.

“It was hoped that we would be able to allay any anxieties they may have and give them the reassurances they were looking for.”

Lamb was at pains to make it clear that the overriding concern was not the much-publicised financial impact the loss of the tour might have on the ECB but the safety of the board’s employees.

He told Sky Sports News: “We stressed that, while there would clearly be consequences and financial implications if we did not tour India, the safety of the players and other people attached to the touring party have been and will continue to be of primary importance to us.”

England captain Nasser Hussain, fast bowler Andy Caddick and all-rounder Craig White are among those who have expressed concerns about security and if a large number of players are opposed to the trip it will become virtually impossible for it go ahead irrespective of what the ECB decides.

The tour party is due to arrive in India Nov 14 and play three Tests by Dec 23. There then follows six one-day matches until Feb 4.—AFP