Despite bullish comments from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the future of England's tour to India is increasingly in doubt. Whereas this time last week the consensus seemed to be that it would go ahead, the political ramifications of the strikes on Afghanistan have left many believing a cancellation sooner rather than later is inevitable. The ECB have repeatedly insisted that the tour would proceed, with chief executive Tim Lamb displaying a Canute-like resolve to that effect. "We're in constant touch with these sources (the Foreign Office) and have been given no advice that we need to change venues or call off the tour," he said.

The Foreign Office, who have apparently told the ECB that there is no reason to cancel, appear to be less certain in the advice they offer to the general public on their website. "We believe that India is one of a number of countries where there is an increased risk to British interests from global terrorism," they state. "All British nationals are strongly advised to keep a low profile, maintain a high level of vigilance, avoid situations where there might be tension and stay in touch with fast moving events".

The ECB have yet to explain how a party of touring cricketers in a country obsessed with the game are supposed to keep a low profile. Standing in the middle of an open field for eight hours a day with the eyes of the world focused on you hardly seems to be in keeping with the guidelines.

There is also the question of the safety of the thousands of supporters who will accompany the tour. If England cancel they will get refunds, but if the tour goes ahead they will face the choice of proceeding or else losing substantial sums of money. There is an argument that they would be unwise to travel, but surely if they are told that it is safe for the high-profile national side to make the trip, they can hardly be advised to the contrary.

Until this week the players themselves had not been drawn into the debate, but Tony Blair's high-profile involvement in the allied air strikes has elevated Britain into a close second place behind the USA as the terrorists' number one target and raised awareness of the situation.

Nasser Hussain's insistence that his side would not allow administrators to make the decision for them seemed to flag growing concerns within the England party. "We're all going to have to sit down and ask 'is it safe to go?' Do we know it is 100 per cent safe to go?" he said.

These on-the-record concerns were backed by a report in the Mail on Sunday which quoted Richard Bevan, the official representative of the England players, as saying that the view was that the tour was "extremely unlikely" to happen. Reading between the lines, the players seem to have seen how the last week has raised the political temperature and are increasingly unhappy at the thought of spending December in India.

Their fears are justified. The statements so far from the ECB, the Foreign Office and the Indian cricket authorities have all been made by organisations who stand to lose should the tour not take place. That is not to say they are not acting in the players' best interests. The cricketers have far more at stake, and if the ECB truly believe that their safety is paramount, then they should consult them before making any further announcements at this week's International Cricket Council meeting in Kuala Lumpar.

After all, it is only a game.

Martin Williamson is managing editor of Wisden.com.

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