LONDON (Reuters)
England's players have been told to let the England & Wales Cricket Board know by midday on Friday if they want to go on next month's tour of India.

The players, led by captain Nasser Hussain, met with ECB officials in a London hotel.

They were also briefed by Sir Rob Young, the British high commissioner to Delhi, and advised that travel to India is safe.

England players fear they could be targets for reprisals following Britain's involvement in the US-led attacks on Afghanistan.

The British Foreign Office has advised UK nationals to keep a low profile in India.

Sir Rob spoke to members of the England squad, which is due to fly out to India on November 14, to try to persuade them that it was safe to tour India despite the political situation in Afghanistan.

Batsman Mark Butcher said: "We've heard a lot about security and we have more information than before. We are going to come back in a couple of days to discuss the final decision but in the meantime we are going to speak with our families."

"We've listened to what they had to say and they have listened to us," allrounder Craig White told Reuters. "There is no security trouble and it was nice of them to come and speak with us, we've got to discuss this now with our family and friends and we've got time to come to a decision."

White said last week that he was reluctant to travel to India for a tour which includes three Tests and, after the players return to England for Christmas, a one-day series in January.

Fast bowler Darren Gough, who was not available for the Test tour but was named in the one-day squad, said the meeting had been worthwhile.

"They [the Delhi high commissioner] had some interesting things to say, we all listened and we've got to make decisions on the information we've got," Gough told Reuters.

"They made some good points and they said that we are basically safe. Personally, I'm not available for the Test tour but we'll have to see how the security situation is."

The players plan to discuss the situation with their families before meeting again in a few days to make a decision about the tour.

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