Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan
Alex Hales (left) and Eoin Morgan are uncertain about touring Bangladesh, according to a report Getty Images

KEY POINTS

  • England's selectors are set to meet to discuss the touring party.
  • Cook, Moeen and Jordan have already revealed they are happy to tour Bangladesh.

England batsmen Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales are reportedly poised to withdraw from the tour to Bangladesh in October if they do not receive further assurances over security. The duo are said to be unsure about the much-discussed tour and are looking for more concrete promises from the ECB before they make a final decision.

Some members of England's prospective touring party are reportedly uncertain about travelling to Bangladesh because they do not think they have been given a satisfactory explanation as to why Australia cancelled their tour last autumn.

Recently, Mal Loye, the former Bangladesh assistant coach, said that Australia's tour was cancelled because of a specific threat against their players – although the ECB has rubbished those claims.

Morgan – who captains England in one-day and T20 cricket – and some of his teammates have requested more details about precisely why the tour was scrapped, according to The Times. What's more, the players have reportedly queried why the issue was not addressed during the recent briefing they had with Reg Dickason, the ECB's head of security.

The England selectors are set to meet on Thursday (8 September) to choose a squad for the Bangladesh tour, although their task could be complicated further by any last-minute withdraws.

One player who has made himself available for selection is fast bowler Chris Jordan, who also said there is plenty of talent in domestic cricket that could easily join the international ranks should senior players decide not to tour. "You have seen already in county cricket this summer that guys have put in some unbelievable performances and still cannot even get into the squad," he explained, according to The Times.

"Ben Duckett is one who springs to mind, and it just shows the strength of the side. I cannot see us going anywhere but from strength to strength."

England are scheduled to play three one-day internationals and two Test matches in Bangladesh, starting with the first game in Dhaka on 7 October. Test captain Alastair Cook and all-rounder Moeen Ali – who plays in all three formats of the game – have already confirmed their availability for selection.