'No discussion' of player opt-out for Bangladesh tour

The ECB has dismissed as premature reports that players will be allowed to miss the tour of Bangladesh even if the board's security consultants decide it is safe to go ahead.

While some news organisations have reported that the ECB is to give players the option not to tour the country due to fears over potential terrorist attacks, it insists that the relevant security visit has not yet started and that any decision will be delayed until that is complete. The players have not yet been approached on the issue.

The ECB's security advisor, Reg Dickason, is currently inspecting venues in India with PCA chief executive, David Leatherdale, and ECB director of cricket operations, John Carr. They are expected to arrive in Bangladesh in the next few days. Dhaka, the nation's capital, suffered a terrorist attack in July that left many dead, while Australia cancelled their tour to the country at the end of last year due to security concerns.

But Paul Farbrace, the England assistant coach, described reports that the ECB had offered players an opt-out as "news to me" and insisted that they would wait until the security visit was completed before making any decisions.

"There has been no discussion on players being allowed to opt out," Farbrace, who was in the Sri Lanka team coach that was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009, said. "We had a chat with the Test and ODI squads about 10 to 12 days ago and we agreed we wouldn't talk about Bangladesh until they [the security team] get back and make a report. Until they get back, there is nothing to talk about.

"It would be a huge call to decide not to tour. Teams not going to Pakistan is a dreadful shame. I was on bus in Lahore and we were lucky to survive that. Player and staff safety is paramount but it's a huge decision for a country to decide not to go. Bangladesh are looking forward to us going."

While giving players the opt-out option remains a possible, perhaps even likely, scenario, it does present potential problems with the dressing room dynamic. A team that has built an "all in it together" culture could stand the risk of being fragmented and, while promises not to take account of the decision in selection can be well-intentioned, allowing another player an opportunity is always a risk. If the replacement player performs, it could prove hard for the original player to regain their place.

There is also precedent for such a decision. England players were given the option not to tour India in 2001, due to security concerns in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center, with Andy Caddick and Robert Croft deciding to opt out of it. Croft never played for England again.

"The safety and security of our players and management is always of paramount importance and this will continue to apply to all teams representing England on overseas tours and attending training camps," an England spokesman said. "The ECB's security advisor Reg Dickason and director of cricket operations John Carr are currently completing a pre-tour inspection in Bangladesh. As we have said before, once we have received and evaluated their report, we will discuss it fully with the England players. "