Clear blue water has emerged between members of the England squad as, at last, one man came out as a 100% willing tourist. Usman Afzaal, the one practising Muslim in the England side, said that he was desperate for the tour to India to go ahead. "I will talk things through with my family but personally I want to tour India. It's as simple as that.

"As far as I'm concerned the security of the players remains the most important thing and, provided that is placed at the top of the agenda and is looked after as well as it can be, I think the trip should go ahead."

Afzaal, who was born in Pakistan but grew up in Nottingham, is a devout Muslim who has organised coaching trips to the sub-continent for local Anglo-Asian cricketers. After a run in the Test team last summer, which culminated in a fifty in the final match at The Oval, this trip is his big chance to make a breakthrough

Three or four players have expressed their doubts about the tour and there are expected to be changes to the final squad which flies out to Mumbai in the middle of November.

The England players have just over 24 hours to make their decision before the ECB deadline of noon on Friday.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd