Pietersen fears England players will want to skip Bangladesh tour

Kevin Pietersen thinks some England players will not want to tour Bangladesh despite reassurances over security and believes strong leadership will be needed to ensure unity in the squad. Pietersen was England captain during the 2008 trip to India when the Mumbai terror attacks hit, shocking the country and raising questions over the safety of the touring team.

The final two matches of the one-day series were cancelled, with England flying home and then to an Abu Dhabi holding camp where they debated returning to India for two Test matches.

In the end they did so, earning considerable gratitude and public thanks from their hosts, but it was an experience that caused Pietersen considerable personal anguish as he attempted to keep his side together.

Eight years on England find themselves in another difficult scenario.

Bangladesh is considered to be at heightened risk of terror attacks at present, with westerners particularly likely to be targeted, but after a fact-finding mission headed by security expert Reg Dickason, the England and Wales Cricket Board has committed to the schedule.

Individual players will be given the opportunity to withdraw if they do not feel comfortable and that could prove tricky according to Pietersen.

'I think it's a difficult one. There'll be a couple looking not to go, who probably don't want to go to Bangladesh, which is the hardest place to tour,' he said.

Speaking from Wellington College, where his KP24 Foundation is running the UK 24/7 Project in partnership with Chance to Shine, Pietersen added: 'As a player, if the rest of the team go it's really hard to pull out and say no.

'I don't think you can pull out if the rest of the team go. Maybe if you've got kids you can play the family card, but you probably still have to go? It's a very interesting time. You're going to need a strong leader.'

Pietersen was cast in that leadership role last time and the 36-year-old looks back on the episode with unhappy memories of battling conflicting personal circumstances and cricketing politics.

'I wished I wasn't captain of England at that time, steering a ship with guys who have kids, which I didn't have at the time. England’s cricketers are yet to commit to the tour of Bangladesh, despite assurances from the ECB’s security advisor Reg Dickason.

I don't think you can pull out if the rest of the team go. Maybe if you've got kids you can play the family card, but you probably still have to go? It's a very interesting time. You're going to need a strong leader

Dickason spent an hour on Thursday evening outlining to the players and coaching staff his confidence in the security measures put in place by the Bangladeshi government, with the squad due to arrive on September 30.

But wicketkeeper Jos Buttler refused to confirm he would make the trip, and it is understood his reticence is shared by many within the dressing-room. The players still have questions they want answered before they make up their minds.

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan has insisted players will not be forced to tour

Strauss remained hopeful that the players would reach a unanimous decision, and said he would schedule a series of individual meetings involving him, the cricketers and Dickason before selection, which will take place after the Twenty20 international against Pakistan on September 7.

But the very existence of those meetings reveals the work ahead for the ECB if they are to arrive in Bangladesh with their strongest possible squad.

And, with Test captain Alastair Cook already a doubt because of the impending birth of his second child, the size of their task was summed up by the response of Buttler.

‘It was a positive meeting, but all you can say is it’s something you have to digest,’ he said. ‘It’s tricky for us at the moment. We’ve got a game here and international cricket needs your full focus.

‘It might be down to the individual. People will react differently – it’s quite emotive. It’s really important you know that you’re not pressured by your mates or throwaway comments.

‘Some guys in the meeting, like Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, were part of the team that went back to India [in 2008-09], so they probably know how to deal with it. But it’s new ground for some people and it’s important we try to deal with it the best we can.’

Asked if he would commit to the tour, Buttler replied: ‘I’ve said plenty, thanks.’

Meanwhile, the ECB are encouraging any England fans planning to follow the tour to make their own arrangements after it emerged that the board would be unable to guarantee their safety.

Strauss said: ‘It’s worth saying that our decision to press ahead is based on the security plans put in place for the players and the management. That’s all we can control.

‘Any supporters who are considering going out there should make their own arrangements, in particular referring to the foreign office advice.’

That advice includes the warning that ‘crowded areas and places where westerners are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack,’ though security at the matches themselves is expected to be water-tight.

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