Cricket Australia recalled its security team "without a resolution in sight and the states are already making plans to include members of the Test squad" in next week's domestic one-day tournament as the prospect of the team touring Bangladesh diminishes, according to Peter Lalor of THE AUSTRALIAN. While the local government has offered a "raised level of security following warnings of attacks on Australian interests, developments in the past 48 hours make it unlikely the tour will continue." On Monday night, "an Italian aid worker was gunned down in Dhaka by three men on a motorcycle and died of his wounds." Islamic State militants later claimed responsibility for the murder and warned that "citizens of the crusader coalition" would not be safe in Muslim nations. Australian football is "also caught up in the issue." The Socceroos have a World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Nov. 17. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade contacted Cricket Australia to "let it know that it would be warning Australians to reconsider travelling to the country." The department warned, "There is reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh." The British government has followed suit and warned officials "to limit attendance at events where Westerners may gather. You should be particularly vigilant at this time." The U.S. and Canadian governments have "since issued similar warnings" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/30). The AAP reported the U.S. said that the reports were based on "reliable new information." CA Head of Security Sean Carroll, Team Manager Gavin Dovey and Team Security Manager Frank Dimasi were returning from Dhaka on Tuesday. The trio is expected to meet Department of Foreign Affairs officials on Wednesday "before briefing the CA board, management and players." The U.S. noted there was "reliable new information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh." A U.S. Department of State bulletin said, "Such attacks, should they occur, could likely affect other foreigners, including U.S. citizens" (AAP, 9/29). REUTERS' Julian Linden reported CA said on Tuesday that no decision on the fate of the tour had yet been made but the delegation was "coming home, which Australian media said was a clear sign the series would be cancelled." On Tuesday, Bangladesh Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the Australian team had "nothing to be worried about." He said, "There is no reason of skipping Bangladesh tour by Australian cricketers on excuse of the murder of Italian national in Dhaka. These are two separate things and I believe the Australian team can safely come to Bangladesh for their scheduled matches" (REUTERS, 9/29).
