Indian cricket chiefs remain confident the Test series against England will get under way in Chennai next week.

Indian cricket chiefs remain confident the Test series against England will get under way in Chennai next week.

England and Wales Cricket Board security manager Reg Dickason has held what Indian officials believe were positive talks with police officials in India.

The terror attacks in Mumbai last week have raised doubts over whether England will make themselves available for the two-Test series, having flown home.

A decision is expected soon, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement: "Dickason met the Commissioner of Police and other officials at police headquarters in Chennai.

"Dickason will proceed to Mohali for discussions with the Punjab Cricket Association and then make his report to ECB."

Srinivasan, who has also met with Dickason, added: "Based on the discussions held and the clarifications given, BCCI expects no problem with the first Test being held in Chennai."

Meanhile, the former England bowler turned media pundit Dominic Cork night said he expected "five or six" players not to return to India for the Test series.

He did not reveal who these players were but claimed to have spoken to them. Recently, though, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann went on record to reveal their reluctance over the tour on the aftermath of  the Mumbai attacks.

Cork told Radio Five Live that he had talked to several England regulars who had based their decision on the more graphic images of the Mumbai terrorist attacks they had seen broadcast in India.

"They are upset and feel they wouldn't be able to go out," he said. "Those I've spoken to are traumatised. What they saw on television was 10 times worse than what was shown here. I am not sure about the captain [Kevin Pietersen]. I know of players who are going to put their families first."

Thiru K Radhakrishnan, Chief Commissioner of Chennai Police, said Dickason had been satisfied with the security arrangements the two discussed in a meeting this week.

"He was satisfied with the steps we are taking to make this tour successful," Radhakrishnan told Sky Sports News.

"I'm sure everything will go well and we will provide absolute security for the visiting team. I'm sure we will provide security for the team."

He added: "They will arrive here on December 8."

England abandoned a seven-match one-day series after five matches after the attacks in Mumbai, but are due to play two Tests before Christmas.

The BCCI have already agreed to shift the venues of the Tests, which were originally scheduled for Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The first Test is now scheduled to be held in Chennai, starting on December 11, and the second Test in Mohali from December 19.