England’s cricket team should travel to ‘100 per cent safe’ Bangladesh, according to Andrew Strauss

ANDREW STRAUSS has warned England’s players there is no excuse for  not going to Bangladesh.

Team supremo and former captain Strauss is convinced the country is “100 per cent safe” and that any waverers should abandon thoughts of withdrawing.

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And he believes Test skipper Alastair Cook can persuade any reluctant players to go on the tour because of his experience of returning to India in 2008 following the Mumbai bombings.

The issue overshadowed the build-up to the second one-dayer in the five-match series against Pakistan at Lord’s.

Strauss insisted: “We can’t force anyone to go on any tour. Our job is to assure them the  security situation is safe.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll have all the squad coming together and saying ‘let’s go’ as a group.”

Strauss hosted a meeting on Thursday at which ECB security chief Reg Dickason said he believes it is safe to visit the country despite a terrorist attack in the capital Dhaka in July in which 20 hostages — including 18 foreigners — were killed.

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The one-day squad, Cook and assorted other players attended the briefing with some listening via a conference call. Strauss added: “At no stage did we ask any players whether they’ll make themselves available.

“But I’m hopeful we’re able to convince the players that it is safe to tour. I’m 100 per cent convinced that is the case.” Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said: “People will react differently, it’s quite emotive. It’s important that you’re not pressured.”

England are likely to be unchanged from the team that crushed Pakistan on Wednesday while Pakistan will recall  wrist-spinner Yasir Shah.

 LIKELY LINE-UPS — England: Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan (capt), Stokes, Buttler (wkt), Moeen, Woakes, Rashid,  Plunkett, Wood.

Pakistan: Ali (capt), Khan, Hafeez, Azam, Ahmed (wkt), Malik, Wasim, Shah, Riaz, Amir, Gul.