Tour to India still on after fatalities

England will press ahead with their tour of India after being reassured by the Foreign Office yesterday about security following the death of seven people during demonstrations in Bombay on Saturday.

Richard Bevan, the Professional Cricketers' Association spokesman for the England team, said there were "grave concerns" after reports of disturbances during an anti-American rally. But after talks with the FO, England have been reassured.

John Carr, the England Cricket Board's director of cricket operations, spoke to Sir Rob Young, the British High Commissioner in Delhi, after the Bombay demonstrations and was told the FO advice remain unchanged.

"Sir Rob kindly rang me before news of the disturbances became public and told me that the FO advice to travellers in India had not changed," Carr said. "It was obviously a serious incident, but from what I've been told it was demonstration which got totally out of hand and they see it as an isolated incident."

Later this week Carr will meet representatives of the Indian Home Ministry, who are responsible for security, in an effort to allay players' fears as five of members of the squad consider whether to withdraw.

Marcus Trescothick, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft and Andrew Caddick were the only members of the 16-man party who asked for more time to make their decisions after Friday's deadline. Their reluctance to commit has caused considerable surprise on the subcontinent, with the former Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan maintaining that they are unlikely to be under threat in India.

"The chances of anything happening to them in India are the same as something happening in England next summer – virtually non-existent," Imran said. "I can't believe what I'm reading about some of them not wanting to go. I can't see anyone being under threat in India. There's very little threat in Pakistan, which is much closer to the troubles. But it could get ugly there if there is more bloodshed in Afghanistan.''

England hope for a decision off most of the five today, although White and Giles are not expected to decide until after the fitness tests on 7 November, six days before departure.