Cricket Australia "more than satisfied" with Bangladesh's tight security

Australia is expected to tour Bangladesh later this year in August-September. They are expected to play two Test in the bilateral series. But there was a cloud of uncertainty over the series, as Cricket Australia (CA) cited security issues as the reason for which they could prevent the Australian team from visiting Bangladesh.

Terror attacks shook the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. After the attacks in the national capital, Australian board was in a state of dilemma over sending their players to Bangladesh. CA will have to rely on the same security which was provided to England national cricket team when they visited Bangladesh last year in October. They played 2 Tests and 3 ODIs. While the Test series was levelled 1-1, England won the ODI series 2-1.

CA happy with arrangements 

Cricket Australia‘s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit manager Sean Carroll is currently at Dhaka. He is on a two-day inspection tour and met the Ministry of Home Affairs, Australian High Commission and the Inspector General of Bangladesh Police.

Inspector General of Bangladesh Police, AKM Shahidul Haque, has assured CA not to worry about any attack whatsoever. He affirmed them of tight security. However, Carroll is very much happy to see the arrangements. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed that Sean is “more than satisfied” after inspecting the arrangements.

Carroll, the former police detective said, “We are working together with the BCB to ensure that the series takes place.  am happy with the arrangements that were in place for England.” Carroll will visit the Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium at Mirpur, Dhaka on Wednesday. He will also conduct meetings with top-level officers of Detective Branch and Rapid Action Battalion on the same day. He will leave for Australia on Thursday.

BCB CEO Chowdhury was very much confident regarding the series. “At the moment they (CA) are more than happy with what we have in place. The CA delegate is here to ensure the arrangements,” he said.

CA representatives will visit Bangladesh again in July for the second-round inspection. If they are happy with the arrangements, the series will start tentatively from 1st of September later this year. It means the first Test will start before the Eid-ul-Adha holidays. The second Test, which will take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, will be played following the holidays.