England director of cricket Andrew Strauss insists no player will be pressurised into touring Bangladesh later this year.
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.
"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."
Strauss does not believe the uncertainty will affect the England team during the ongoing one-day international series against Pakistan.
"The players have dealt with this unbelievably well, they haven't allowed that to affect their cricket," the former opening batsman added.
"The real challenge starts now because it comes to the forefront of the mind a little bit more.
"It is one of those things as an international cricketer you always have to deal with, distractions of one type or the other. This is another one they are going to have to put to one side when playing, focusing on watching the ball, bowling well and taking catches.
"Then when they have time off they can reconsider their thoughts and clarify their thoughts on the matter."
Source: PA
