Australia's players and officials "have not given up on the Test series in Bangladesh," according to Jesse Hogan of THE AGE. But some believe the security situation there will have to "change pretty drastically" for them to travel there as planned.
The scheduled departure of the squad on Monday for Dhaka "was indefinitely delayed because of adverse safety advice from Australian foreign affairs officials." The advice "related to the safety of Australian citizens, rather than of the cricket team specifically." Cricket Australia "sent their head of security, Sean Carroll, to Bangladesh on Saturday to get an urgent update from local officials to clarify the situation and planned security arrangements for the team." His ability to promptly get necessary briefings "is expected to be hindered by a religious holiday." CA CEO James Sutherland said that "they wanted the tour to go ahead, but stressed that was secondary to the 'absolute priority' of the safety of their players and staff." Sutherland: "It would be a shame for the tour not to go ahead; we're very much hoping that it will. But the circumstances obviously at the moment mean we've made a decision to defer our departure." CA and the players' union "have similar views about the tour." The latter "is taking advice not only from CA but also its own security experts and the global players' union, the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations." Australian Cricketers' Association CEO Alistair Nicholson:
"We continue to be in close contact with the players, who fully understand that their safety is our foremost concern, and any recommendations we make will be made with this in mind" (THE AGE, 9/27).
