Cricket Australia recalls Bangladesh security delegation, tour in doubt

Dhaka, September 29 - An Australian security delegation returned home on Tuesday without giving a go-ahead for its national cricket team's tour of Bangaldesh, leaving the fate of the delayed two-Test series in serious doubt.

Cricket Australia (CA), acting on the delegation's inputs, has not changed its position on the series, reports bdnews24.com.

CA head of security Sean Carroll, Australia team manager Gavin Dovey and security manager Frank Dimasi sat with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and top Bangladeshi security officials on Monday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan and chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury were present in the meeting too.

"(There has been) no change in our position on the matter," a CA spokesperson said on Tuesday.

He said the Australian security delegation left Dhaka "for further meetings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and to brief our board, management and players on the situation."

The Australian team delayed its departure to Bangladesh on Saturday after being warned by its government against a potential security risk from militants.

On Friday, DFAT, which provides travel advice to Australians planning to go abroad, in its notice said, "There is reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh".

However, BCB is not worried over the tour and even went ahead to announce a 14-man squad for the first Test. BCB officials believe the schedule will remain intact.

The first Test is scheduled to be held from October 9 in Chittagong and the second from October 17 in Dhaka. The visitors are also supposed to play a three-day warm-up match against BCB XI from October 3 as per the tour itinerary.

(IANS)