Melbourne, September 26

The Australian Cricket team has delayed its planned departure to Bangladesh after been warned by the Australian government that there was a potential security risk from militants.

The Australian team was due to fly out of Sydney on Monday morning for the three-week tour, which includes two Test matches against Bangladesh. But Cricket Australia (CA) announced today that the team’s travel plans had been placed on hold after Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warned that militants could be planning an attack.

“We have received advice from DFAT and based on that information we are working with security experts and the Bangladesh Cricket Board on a revised security plan for the tour,” CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement. DFAT provides travel advice to Australians planning to go overseas.

Australia has not played a Test match in Bangladesh for a decade but were scheduled to make their return this year, playing a three-day warm-up match in Fatullah, starting October 3, before back-to-back Tests in Chittagong from October 9 then Dhaka from October 17. “We will wait to receive updated security information before confirming the team’s travel arrangements,” Sutherland added.