Bangladesh cricket team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha (4th from left) and other Bangladesh Cricket Board officials inspect the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium ground in Dhaka yesterday. Australia's two-Test tour of Bangladesh remains on hold with players returning to their home states after new warnings about security in the south Asian nation. Cricket Australia 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 in the country. (AFP)
AFP/Melbourne
Australia’s two-Test tour to Bangladesh remained on hold yesterday with players returning to their home states after new warnings about security in the south Asian nation.
Cricket Australia 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 in the country.
“There has been no change to the situation or our current position,” a Cricket Australia official said via email. “While we’re waiting for a decision, players have been asked to re-join their state training programs.”
Bangladesh has insisted that the players will be given the level of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state, with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan saying the “highest security protocol” would be provided.
But the death of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter—shot three times on Monday night by attackers who fled on a motorcycle in a murder claimed by Islamic State group—has escalated safety fears.
International schools in Bangladesh were closed on Tuesday while Western embassies restricted their diplomats’ movements.
The British Foreign Office has warned against attending gatherings of westerners in Bangladesh due to “reliable information” militants may be planning to target western interests.
The US embassy in Dhaka said its diplomats would be barred from attending international hotels and advised citizens to follow suit.
“There is reliable new information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh,” the embassy said in a security message.
“Such attacks, should they occur, could likely affect other foreigners , including US citizens.”
Australian team officials travelled back from the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday after talks with senior security and intelligence figures, including Khan.
They were expected to meet with Australian foreign ministry officials Wednesday as well as Cricket Australia’s board, management and players.
Bangladesh prides itself on being a mainly moderate Muslim country. But the gruesome killings of four atheist bloggers this year rocked the nation and sparked a crackdown on hardline Islamist groups.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan, who also met with the Australian officials early this week, said the delayed departure of Steve Smith’s team had been very disappointing. “There is no risk for them in Bangladesh,” Hassan said.
“The situation is now different after the death of the Italian national,” Hassan added. “The UK and US governments have also given out alerts. This is a very rare incident in Bangladesh but one has to understand the difference between this and a cricket team that is given blanket security.”
Australia captain Steven Smith, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and spinner Nathan Lyon were among those who turned out for training for New South Wales state yesterday ahead of a domestic one-day tournament.
Fast bowler Peter Siddle and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell had also returned to training in Melbourne, a Cricket Victoria spokesman said.
A decision on whether the tour will go ahead has to be made soon because Australia is scheduled to host New Zealand in a three-Test series, starting early November.
The security concerns in Bangladesh could also impact on Australia’s qualifying campaign for the soccer World Cup.
Australia are due to play a return qualifier in Bangladesh in November after beating the southern Asians in Perth earlier this month.
Football Federation Australia said they were closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and seeking advice from security experts and government authorities.
