INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has urged England to return to India for next month’s two-Test series.

The tour is in doubt following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 174 people.

The squad arrived back in London on Saturday after the final two one-day internationals were cancelled, but they are due to return for the first Test starting on December 11 in Ahmedabad.

That could now be moved to Kolkata with the second match having been switched from Mumbai to Chennai already.

Durham paceman Steve Harmison described the decision each player will have to make about whether to return as ‘‘the most important of their lives’’ but insisted now was not the time to make rash judgements.

Describing the scenes they witnessed on Indian TV, he told the Mail on Sunday: ‘‘The carnage is unimaginable, like a horror movie. I’m sorry, but whatever is being asked of us in the next few days, at the moment, the idea of being asked to go back out there is the last thing on my mind.

‘‘I can’t say now that I will definitely not come back or that I definitely will.

‘‘If the board say they want us to go back the players have about 72 hours to come to the most important decision of their lives. All I hope is that nobody thinks we will take it lightly.’’ The England and Wales Cricket Board are taking security advice and expect a decision to be made about the future of the tour within the next 48 hours.

After expressing his horror at the events, Lorgat said: ‘‘If safety and security allow then I would urge the England Test tour of India to go ahead and if it does then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams.

‘‘If those Tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy.

‘‘I have today written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India pledging whatever support the ICC can offer to help ensure that, if appropriate, cricket goes ahead.

‘‘I have also written to the England and Wales Cricket Board with a similar offer of support and solidarity.’’ Lorgat also revealed issues of safety and security will be addressed at next week’s ICC chief executives’ committee meeting in Cape Town.

The ECB and the BCCI have discussed a number of ways forward but a neutral venue such as Abu Dhabi looks like one which will not be pursued.

The favoured option currently is thought to be for the team to head straight for the city in which they will play the first Test – be it Ahmedabad or Kolkata – and play a two-day warm-up game at an alternative ground to the Test.

ECB managing director Hugh Morris insisted England will be going back to India if it is deemed safe to do so, but admitted it may not be a firstchoice side.

The ECB and captain Kevin Pietersen have already confirmed no player will be forced to return to the country.

Morris told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: ‘‘If the security advice suggests it is a safe environment, we will be playing two Test matches.

‘‘The support we’ve had in India has been incredible.

Cricket is a galvanising force in that country, and that’s got to be taken into account as well.’’ Asked about the possibility of top players refusing to go back, Morris added: ‘‘Clearly we would have to potentially face that issue.’’ Morris has been in constant contact with the Professional Cricketers’ Association and players’ advisors.

He has had informal talks with the players and they have agreed that no final decision will be made until all the security advice – which will be shared with the PCA – has come in.

BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi expects England to return, but insisted the board will not press for compensation if they decide to stay at home.

‘‘It’s not the BCCI against the ECB and the players, that doesn’t achieve anything,’’ Modi said.

‘‘In 2005, the bomb blasts in the UK, two weeks later the Ashes series began.

‘‘Everybody needs to be pragmatic. If the security is possible and it is there then we should continue.

‘‘It’s not about compensation.

I’ve heard numbers, but it’s got nothing to do with monetary issues. We would never pressurise anybody and that’s not the way we operate.

‘‘Compensation is the last thing we are looking at.’’