Security concerns delay Australia departure for Bangladesh

There is still time.

Australia appear likely to make a decision on Monday over whether or not to go ahead with their tour of Bangladesh.

“We were promised that the team would be given VVIP security, like the ones usually given to the president or the prime minister of a country”, team manager Shafiqul Haque said.

The government contacted Cricket Australia directly on Friday afternoon to relay the latest advice, which has led to Carroll being dispatched to Bangladesh to assess the situation.

Steve Smith, who was due to captain his first series as full-time skipper, and the rest of the Aussie squad were scheduled to fly out to Bangladesh on 28 September. The final test is to be played on October. 17 in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, to cap off the short tour of South-Central Asia.

The country’s six-year isolation ended when the Zimbabwe men’s side toured Pakistan in May-June this year for two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day matches.

Cricket Australia announced on Saturday that due to safety and security concerns it had delayed the world champions’ departure for next month’s tour of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Cricket Board officials have given Cricket Australia security assurances and are optimistic of the tour’s continuation, although CA’s position is one that prioritises player and staff security.

After Monday’s meeting, BCB chief Nazmul Hasan said, “We’ve told them that the cricketers will get VVIP security”.

“This is obviously coming very suddenly and we have needed to make this response”, Sutherland added.

The Australian security assessment team would now inform higher-ups about their findings, he said, hoping the issue would be resolved.

“Cricket Australia’s head of security Sean Carrol is coming to Dhaka tomorrow”.

He also held discussions with two Bangladeshi detective agencies.

He said a clearer picture should emerge once Carroll had arrived in the country. “We’re awaiting updated and more detailed assessments and will keep the players informed of any developments”.