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England coach Peter Moores admits he is uncertain if star players Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison will return to India.

A final decision on whether the tour will resume will be made on Sunday night after Hugh Morris, managing director England cricket, and Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, return to Abu Dhabi with fresh security information.

Although Moores is hopeful that the full side will fly to Chennai on Monday if the green light is given, he concedes not everyone may commit and all players' decisions should be respected.

England will already have to replace the injured Ryan Sidebottom in the 15-man party and have further deputies at hand due to the presence of 10 members of the performance squad.

"I'm fairly confident everybody will go if the security report is okay," said Moores. "But it is a difficult situation and everybody sees things differently. Individuals have different views.

"The worry is that if somebody makes their choice one way or the other they get marginalised for it.

"It won't be held against anyone if they don't go. Everybody will have opinions about those decisions, but we have to show respect.

"Players are in different places. There are players I've spoken to more than others. Some make a decision quite quickly. For others it takes a bit longer."

Moores admitted both Flintoff and Harmison have reservations over the potential trip.

He added: "Fred has had issues and it's fair to say Steve Harmison has as well.

"The important message from me is that we respect people and allow them to have their views. That's okay - they are human beings.

"What I do know about those two guys is that they are massively proud to play for their country and both have missed out on Test match cricket and are both desperate to play again.

"It's not as though they have been on the road for 18 months and are desperate for a break.

"If any player like that didn't go it would hurt him as much sat at home as any of the other players.

"The key is we get clear information and I hope as a team we all go together and play."

Flintoff - who received a card and a round of applause from team-mates for his 31st birthday during afternoon practice - allayed doubts about his fitness following a niggle to his perennially troublesome left ankle with a lengthy bowl at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

With the scheduled first Test in Chennai due to begin on Thursday, there is little time to prepare minds and bodies for a five-day contest and plans had earlier been hit by morning rain.

Flintoff would be key to English hopes of success in the two-Test series, having led from the front when a patched-up side earned a 1-1 draw on the sub-continent in 2006.

But he is his own man and Moores added: "The more you get to know Freddie you understand that he is a highly articulate man, he's been round the block and knows international sport and knows what he wants. That's his strength as a person.

"In this instance, he quite rightly wants to take all the information in and make his call.

"If he thinks it's right he will go and represent his country.

"If he thinks he can't, that will be a tough decision for him, and it will be his decision."

If some of the original players who returned home a week ago following the Mumbai terror attacks do opt out there remains a danger that team unity might be fractured.

But Moores insisted: "You have to want to go. If you force people to go that can have an equally damaging affect. They have to go for the right reasons.

"I want us to go proud as an England team and put on an entertaining spectacle for the whole of cricket - English fans, Indian fans - and put security to the back of the mind and get on with the game."

Moores, who tried to make light of the disruption to preparation by joking England might go to Mauritius ahead of the Ashes if they overcome the odds to win this forthcoming series, is intent on finishing the seven-week trip.

"Yes I do want to go to India," he said. "Personally I want us to go and play, but we have to take into account the security advice.

"From what I know so far I am personally happy and think it is right to go and play.

"It is a good time to go and play cricket in India."

Uncertainty has surrounded the tour since the Mumbai attacks and the ECB are still unsure whether the second Test will be played in Mohali as was previously announced.

Morris is scheduled to visit the northern Indian city before the start of the first Test but Bangalore and Delhi have been mooted as possible alternatives - they would also provide direct flights home to guarantee the players are back for Christmas.

"It is an extraordinary situation because of what has happened," Moores added.

"Our guys who are picked have to decide whether India, full stop, is safe.

"The question will be, 'do you think India is a safe place to go and play cricket with the measures we have put in place'?"

Stuart Broad will meet his colleagues in Chennai on Monday should the tour officially restart - having spent the last few days in the UK recuperating from a small hamstring tear.

Sporting Life / Eurosport