England players will not be pressured over Bangladesh decision, says Andrew Strauss
Saturday 27 August 2016 10:26, UK
England director of cricket Andrew Strauss insists no player will be pressurised into touring Bangladesh this autumn.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Thursday night that the trip to Bangladesh in October, consisting of three one-day internationals and two Tests, will go ahead despite recent terror attacks in the country.
ECB security expert Reg Dickason, director of cricket operations John Carr and David Leatherdale, representing the Professional Cricketers' Association, recently made a fact-finding visit to Bangladesh and reported back.
The details were discussed at a meeting on Thursday night and former England skipper Strauss has left the decision on whether to tour in the players' own hands.
"Last night we met with the players and tried as much as possible to explain to them the security situation and why we feel it is safe to go," Strauss told Sky Sports News HQ on Friday.
"Right now there is an opportunity for them to take time to digest it and speak to anyone they need to speak to to ask any further questions, and then we will have one-on-one conversations with them over the coming days and weeks.
"I am very confident in the security situation and very confident of the security plan, so I am very hopeful we will take a full squad out to Bangladesh.
"I am hopeful. I don't think we need to rush ahead with this. It would be wrong for me to make any assumptions on any individuals' decisions on this.
"Our job is to share with them the information and make them feel comfortable with the fact that it is safe to go out to Bangladesh.
"It is wrong for us to pressurise any individual. It is a strong statement if all the players come out together and say: 'we are going to go on that tour'.
"For them all to do that, our job is to assure them that it is a safe place for them to go and tour."
However, former England captain Kevin Pietersen admits he would not want to travel to Bangladesh if he was still playing international cricket.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don't think you've got a choice, if you're an England player. We had a similar issue when I was captain and going back to India after the bombs. That caused major disruptions in the team - guys with kids, guys without kids - and I was unfortunately the leader at that time.
"But would I want to go to Bangladesh for a couple of months? No thanks."
