The England and Wales Cricket Board is set to have 'extensive discussions' with senior players as it plots its reaction to the announcement Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy in September despite fears over security.
The International Cricket Council on Thursday confirmed the tournament would not be moved after an ICC Board teleconference, during which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered assurances over the safety of competitors.
But it is understood England, along with South Africa, Australia and New Zealand - the strongest proponents of relocating the competition - is deeply unhappy with the decision.
The possibility of an under-strength side being sent due to players dropping out remains a real one as the ECB consider its position after a spell of intense but unsuccessful lobbying on the subject.
Suggestions have also been made that one or more of the four teams opposed to the decision would opt out of the event.
Key squad members are to be consulted by the ECB - a move that echoes a similar scenario during the 2003 World Cup, when the side refused to travel to Zimbabwe for a group match - and a decision could come as soon as tomorrow.
A spokesman for the ECB said: "Following the decision of the ICC, the ECB will be having further extensive discussions with a number of key stakeholders - including England players and Team England - to determine our decision."
"Once those discussions are concluded, the ECB will be in a position to make a clear decision."
Pakistan's suitability to stage the tournament was called into question after a spate of bombings in the country, the most recent coming in June when a suicide bomber killed 15 people in the capital, Islamabad.
As part of the decision, it was announced an ICC task force will head to Pakistan prior to the tournament to evaluate security measures in the cities that will play host to matches - Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.
An ICC statement read: "The ICC Board today held a teleconference to discuss the location for this year's ICC Champions Trophy, at the end of which they reiterated their decision of 2006 to stage the event in Pakistan."
"In arriving at that position, the board considered various security reports and discussed at length the concerns of some members and stakeholders as well as the perceptions of Pakistan that may exist in some quarters."
"In recognising those concerns and perceptions, the board agreed they needed to be managed going forward, both before and during the tournament."
According to the statement, the ICC task force will 'ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the ICC's independent security advisors' while also liaising with embassies in Pakistan and other governments 'on an ongoing basis to ensure effective communication and the management of any concerns that may exist'.
India publicly backed the PCB's right to host the Champions Trophy and it is also believed there was significant support from other ICC member nations.
PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said: "We thank all member countries for their kind support. The competition goes ahead as planned."
"The ICC has decided to appoint a special task force, which will visit Pakistan. The tournament will take place as scheduled from September 11 to September 28."