LONDON (Reuters)
Former international cricketer Allan Lamb has entered the debate over England's on-off tour of India by arguing that it should be left to the players to decide whether the trip goes ahead.

Lamb said: "Lord's must let the players decide whether to go or stay." He told The Mirror newspaper on Saturday: "If you drag reluctant tourists all the way to India, they are not going to enjoy it and England risk losing the series 3-0 anyway."

Meanwhile, ECB chief executive Tim Lamb said this morning that he hoped the tour would go ahead as planned. "We are very keen for the tour to go ahead," he told Radio Five Live. "At this moment we see no reason why it cannot. We won't force anyone to get on a plane. We hope to allay concerns."

England are due to play three Tests in India in December, followed by a five-match one-day series during January and February.

England captain Nasser Hussain has already expressed concerns about the team's security in India because of the tensions in the region following the suicide plane attacks on the United States last month.

Leading batsman Graham Thorpe and allrounder Craig White have also been quoted questioning the tour. White told the BBC that the trip was "too big a risk to take" and added: "I don't think any of the guys will be keen on going."

The ECB suggested the tour was in doubt at the start of the week but sounded a more positive note on Wednesday following a meeting with their Indian counterparts in Kuala Lumpur.

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