National team cricketers will be given the option to sit out the forthcoming Americas Cup tournament if they are in fear of their safety in strife-torn Argentina.

But outgoing Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) president, El James, said he believed assurances from the International Cricket Board (ICC) would be enough to dispel their concerns.

James' belief was backed up by comments from the chairman of the Argentine Cricket Association who said he thought any worries were misplaced.

Richard Lord told The Royal Gazette yesterday that despite widespread trouble in and around the capital, Buenos Aires, at the end of last year and again earlier last month, he was confident the tournament would go off without a hitch.

A total of 27 people were killed in December when public frustrations boiled over at an economic slump that has impoverished thousands of Argentines and led Fernando de la Rua to resign as President.

A week ago protestors took to the streets again when new President Eduardo Duhalde told local radio he needed more time to stabilise the economy after a recent painful devaluation.

Since taking office on January 2, Argentina's fifth leader in just over a month has tried to defuse a harrowing financial crisis by reducing the peso's value by 30 percent, but the measure has put some banks on the brink of collapse and many deposits remain frozen to prevent a run.

There has been sporadic violence across the country in recent weeks as Argentines vented their fury at limits on cash withdrawals from banks and freezes on parts of their savings - nearly halved in dollar terms after the Government devalued the peso after defaulting on Argentina's huge debt.

James, who is standing down from the BCBC helm next Thursday, said: "We were in touch with the regional director as recently as yesterday and he has been assured by the Argentine authorities that it is safe and safe to travel. There should not be any threat to anyone's safety."

However, he said he was willing to canvas the opinion of the Island's players.

"What we need to do is find out from our players if any of them are nervous about going down there," he said. "We certainly wouldn't force any of our players to go against their wishes."

James believed everything had been done to ensure the tournament went off without a hitch.

"Wherever we send players and there is turmoil we have to be concerned - we have to consider the players' safety first," he said. "But as long as they can assure us there will be no threat then we will be satisfied and that is the case now.

"I don't think any of our players will have a problem with going right now. After all, if Argentina and the ICC are saying it is safe then I don't see why any country or its players should question otherwise."

Lord, meanwhile, said despite worries elsewhere about whether the tournament would go ahead at all, things were proceeding as planned.

"Everything is perfectly well, there is no problem whatsoever. The games start on March 9, the venues are the same and the hotels are booked - there is no problem," he said from the capital. "Everybody, according to Robert Weekes (ICC Americas regional development manager), has accepted, all six teams. I haven't heard anything to the contrary, all the countries are playing according to the ICC. We are going ahead with the programme as scheduled."

Lord said some competing nations had expressed fears but he had done his best to allay them.

"There have been concerns and we have cleared them all up. It is one thing to watch things on TV but it is different in reality," he said.

"Next week the Davis Cup (tennis) tournament against Australia is being played here. The Australian players are here and are practising every day and there have been no problems whatsoever."

Lord said the venues for the tournament, Hurlingham, Corimayo and Virrey del Pino, were away from where the troublespots had been.

"It's completely outside (of that area)," he said. "The venues are at clubs where rugby, hockey, tennis, English bowls and golf are played. There is no problem."

This is only the second time the tournament has been held, the first being in Toronto two years ago, and Lord said he was sure it would go well.

"It should be very good. You never know what will happen in these countries but everything is going to plan and on schedule at the moment," he said.

"It's very important for us and for the development of cricket in Argentina."