6 Jan 2016

Bangladesh not out for Kiwi cricketers

10:21 am on 6 January 2016

New Zealand's Under-19 cricket squad will compete in the World Cup in Bangladesh, despite Australia's side pulling out over security fears.

Cricket Australia said the security threat to Australians travelling to Bangladesh remained as high now as it was when it postponed the Test team's tour to the country late last year.

Canberra has authorised families of its diplomatic staff in Bangladesh to return home, saying there had been terror attacks and further ones attacks were likely against Westerners.

The International Cricket Council said it was disappointed with Australia's decision and was adamant there was good security in place.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said there was no direct threat to the New Zealand team, and it would be safe.

"The Australian situation is different to ours. Their threat, as we understand it, is directly at Australian nationals," he said.

"So we're comfortable, at this stage, with the security protocols that have been put in place.

"There'll be a security bubble placed around all the competing teams at venues, enforced by the police, the government and all the armed forces."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there was a threat of terrorism in Bangladesh, warning that attacks could happen at any time in public places where there are foreigners.

According to its website, an Italian national was shot and killed and in the Gulshan diplomatic zone in Dhaka in September.

In October, a Japanese national was shot and killed in Rangpur, northern Bangladesh.

"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has claimed responsibility for both attacks," the website said.

The World Cup starts on 27 January, with New Zealand's 15-man squad first heading to Dubai for a preparatory Tri-Series against Australia and Pakistan, before going on to Bangladesh.

The team flies out of Auckland tonight.