Cricket Australia putting on hold scheduled test tour of the Australian Cricket team to Bangladesh suddenly at the very last minute has caught the Bangladesh Cricket community on the surprise. The players were due to depart for Bangladesh on Monday.CA informed that they postponed the tour till getting further security advice. Bangladesh has genuine reasons to feel perturbed .Cricket enthusiasts have reasons to get frustrated.
 

Usually in case of such bilateral tour the cricket boards of concerned countries maintain regular contacts. If any credible situation arises at all that is usually instantaneously brought to the attention of the counterpart. But in this instance CA decision at the last minute was only communicated at the very last minute when Bangladesh was ready to welcome the tourists.
 

Cricket Australia delayed the departure of its team for what in their opinion is due to increased security concerns. A press release issued by CA Chief Executive James Sutherland on Sunday night states, "recent advice from a range of Australian government sources" that identified potential security risks to Australian interests in Bangladesh. 
 

"We have received advice from DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] and based on that information we are working with security experts and the Bangladesh Cricket Board on a revised security plan for the tour," Sutherland said. "We want the tour to go ahead and are planning for that, but the safety and security of our players and support staff is our number-one priority and won't be compromised. “
 

The Australian government's travel advice website, Smartraveller, issued updated travel advice for Bangladesh on Friday. It said "There is reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh."
 

The situation was not known even few days earlier when James Faulkner was picked as replacement for injured Pat Cummins. Bangladesh national squad was enjoying an Eid break before returning to training on Monday.
 

DFAT has office in Bangladesh which operates under the Australian High Commission there .We are sure DFAT and Australian High Commission in Dhaka are in communication with BCB and Bangladesh Government about this tour.
 

As Bangladeshi Australian we were looking forward to this particular series with great attention. We are aware how much Australian government cares about the safety of its citizen especially when they in a mission abroad. But such a dramatic development can definitely raise confusion and controversy as there are huge elements of doubt here. Why not DFAT kept Bangladesh Government informed and updated regularly or is it outside their protocol? 
 

We have observed huge media speculations both in social media and print media. Even some electronic media carried out some talk shows.
 

The logical questions have been raised. What has happened over the last couple of days in Bangladesh that has led DFAT to raise alarm? In our knowledge Muslims in Bangladesh like the rest of the world have celebrated Eid Ul Azha. No such incident of terrorism has happened in Bangladesh recently which can warrant such a surprise alarm.
 

In the cricket area Bangladesh has taken a decision to send its women cricket team for a tour to Pakistan. Did this create a cause of concern for Australian Government?  This must not as Australia is not a part of it .Every BCB member country has its authority to or not to send their teams to other countries. BCB and Bangladesh Government has taken a decision after through surveillance of security arrangement in the venue of Pakistan and upon Pakistan Government assurance of the highest security protection. So cannot link the BCB decision of sending team to Pakistan cannot be linked with CA postponing the tour on security reasons.
 

The security report suggests that Australian government is concerned about credible threats of terrorist on Australian interest in Bangladesh. We are not security experts .But if such threats were there Bangladeshi intelligence agencies must have knowledge about it. There are no valid reasons why any group would target Australians or Australian interest in Bangladesh? If that is the case, one can only conclude that Australian High Commission in Dhaka for some reasons lost the line of communication with Bangladesh Government for a while.
 

We like the cricket community in Australia and Bangladesh feel that the discussions between CA security chief and BCB will soon bring meeting of minds and the tour will go ahead even on a revised schedule soon.

A great test series is in prospect .Australia team is in the process of rebuilding after the ashes .Several key players have retired. The new look team is under a new captain Steve Smith. Bangladesh team off late had revolutionary success in ODI .Even they have improved a lot in test. Several high quality talented youngsters have joined the world class players like Shakib, Tamim and Mushfique. A very exciting two test matches series is in prospect.
 

We have seen some unnecessary gossips in social media that Australia may be concerned about its relatively in experienced team exposed to strong Bangladesh team. Australia is a highly professional cricket team. It has huge depth and diversity of quality players. Some key players’ retirement cannot make much of a difference to Australian team strength. It is still a very competitive side. Moreover, Bangladesh in test is yet to prove its potential.
 

Although cricket is a game only but if this tour fail to go ahead it may have far reaching consequences on the bilateral relations of the two very friendly countries .DFAT is partnering Bangladesh in some important areas. We hope Australian government will realize the gravity of the situation and unless it proves to be unmanageable risk will let the tour proceed. 
 

BDST: 2130 HRS, SEP 27, 2015

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