Australian security delegation returns home with 'no change’ in earlier stance

The Australian security delegation has returned home from Dhaka even as fate of the delayed tour of that country’s cricket team hangs in balance.

Cricket Australia has not changed its position on the postponed two-Test series.

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

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," Cricket Australia website quoted a CA spokesperson as saying.

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, 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 Cricket Board, however, is not worried over the tour. The board went ahead and announced a 14-man squad for the first Test.

Nizam Uddin thinks even the schedule will remain intact.

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