'Majority' of England players will tour, says union chief

Despite opting out of England's tour to Zimbabwe in November, Steve Harmison looks like being the exception rather than the rule, according to Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Harmison cited political reasons as being at the root of his decision, and recalled the anxiety and indecision of the previous winter's World Cup, when the England team instigated a last-minute boycott of their opening fixture in Harare.

Bevan, however, expects a "majority" of England's players to agree to take the trip, although he added that further talks would take place once the squad is announced after the Champions Trophy.

"No other player has come to me and said they have no intention of travelling," Bevan told BBC Radio Five Live. "When the selectors have met, after the Champions Trophy, we'll sit down again with the players."

Bevan added that the players were "sympathetic" to the plight of the England & Wales Cricket Board, who were obliged to fulful the tour under the conditions of the ICC's future tours programme, or else face a stiff fine and possible suspension from international cricket.

England have agreed to five one-day internationals in late November and early December.