Bangladesh tour: Doubts linger as Australians return to home states

Players’ departure delayed on foreign ministry’s advice amid security concerns

SYDNEY: Australia’s two-Test tour to Bangladesh remained on hold with players returning to their home states after new warnings about security in the south Asian nation.

Cricket Australia (CA) delayed the departure of the Test team on Sunday after receiving advice from foreign ministry officials that militants may be planning attacks on Australian interests.

“There has been no change to the situation or our current position,” said a CA official. “While we’re waiting for a decision, players have been asked to re-join their state training programmes.”

Bangladesh has insisted that the players will be given the level of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state.

But the death of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter has escalated safety fears.

Australian team officials travelled back from the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday after talks with senior security and intelligence figures.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan said the delayed departure of Steve Smith’s team had been very disappointing. “There is no risk for them in Bangladesh,” said Hassan.

With the first Test scheduled to start on October 9, Australia’s World Cup football qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka on November 17 could also be at risk. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.

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