Australia's Bangladesh tour prospect to get clearer image after Monday meetings

Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland has said the prospect of Australia's Bangladesh tour will get a clearer picture after meetings on Monday.

The Australian team has delayed its departure for Bangladesh after being warned by its government that there was a potential security risk from militants.

CA Head of Security Sean Carroll flew to Dhaka on Sunday to assess the security situation and planning in the country.

He sat with two Bangladeshi detective agencies there.

Carroll will hold meeting with officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, which will provide a clearer view of whether or not the Australian team will visit Bangladesh.

The decision, however, has to be made quickly because their three-match Test series with New Zealand will start in five weeks.

"Meetings will commence on Monday. We'll have a much better understanding there. It's just one step at a time at the moment," CA Chief Executive James Sutherland told a news conference on Sunday.

"Our position is that we want the tour to go ahead as planned. This has obviously come very suddenly and we needed to make this response (sending Sean Carroll in Bangladesh)."

The Australians delayed their planned departure after Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a warning on Friday that militants in Bangladesh could be planning an attack on tourists.

The 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.

Bangladesh government, however, has termed Australia's concerns 'baseless'. 
“An Australian organisation has expressed its concerns. But it is a baseless concern,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told journalists on Sunday. 

“India, Pakistan, South Africa and many other countries have come and played international matches here. There were no problems.”

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan said he was "surprised" by Australia's decision on Saturday.

"This is very disappointing," Hassan said. "There is no violence in the country."

Bangladesh successfully hosted the World Twenty20 and the Asia Cup amid political turmoil last year.

Steven Smith-led Australia were supposed to reach Dhaka on Monday for a two-Test series. 

The first Test was scheduled for Oct 9 in Chittagong and the second on Oct 17 in Dhaka. A three-day warmup against BCB XI on Oct 3 had also been scheduled in the tour itinerary.

The last time Australia toured Bangladesh was in 2011. The teams have not played a Test between them since April 2006.