Australia's two-Test cricket tour to Bangladesh appears increasingly unlikely to go ahead as Cricket Australia officials fly home following security briefings.
Bangladesh in celebration mode. Photo: Photosport
The team was due to fly to Bangladesh on Monday but delayed their departure following reports that militants may be planning to target Australian interests
No decision has yet been taken after the discussions in Bangladesh involving Cricket Australia's head of security Sean Carroll, team manager Gavin Dovey and team security manager Frank Dimasi over reports that militants may be planning to target Australian interests.
The trio were en route home on Tuesday and expected to meet with Department of Foreign Affairs officials on Wednesday before briefing the CA board, management and players on the security situation.
Heightening concern is the fact that the United Kingdom government has followed Australia's lead and upgraded its warning to British nationals in Bangladesh.
It says: "UK officials have been advised to limit attendance at events where westerners may gather. You should be particularly vigilant at this time."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh have named a 14-man squad for the first Test against Australia,
Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Despite the ongoing doubts, Bangladesh have shown their confidence the tour will go ahead by naming a squad for the first Test, scheduled for October the 9th, to be captained by Mushfiqur Rahim.
Classy all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, World Cup star Mahmudullah and left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman, who was man of the match on debut in the first of two drawn Tests against South Africa recently, headline the squad.
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Jubair Hossain, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Shahid, Mominul Haque, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam.
