England’s security adviser, Reg Dickason, will travel to Bangladesh before the Under-19 World Cup, after Australia withdrew their team from the tournament amid safety concerns.
Cricket Australia, who pulled their senior side out of a Test tour to the country last October, said on Tuesday they would not be taking part in the 50-over competition that starts on 27 January following advice from its government.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have since contacted players and staff in their under-19s set-up to reassure them that, according security information from Dickason and the International Cricket Council, it remains safe to tour the country.
The squad, captained by the Hampshire spinner Brad Taylor, will meet this Thursday for a preparation day where they will be briefed on the situation and given the chance to ask questions. Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, is also set to attend.
Dickason, now in South Africa with the England Test side, visited Bangladesh last November as part of an ICC security team led by the chief executive, Dave Richardson, and will now return for further checks.
Reacting to the news of Australia’s withdrawal, Richardson said: “The ICC takes its responsibilities around safety and security of ICC events extremely seriously. ICC are confident the proposed security arrangements will adequately address the identified risks.”
Australia, who will be replaced by Ireland for the three-week tournament, sent their head of security, Sean Carroll, to meet officials in Bangladesh last week and say they have made the decision to withdraw on the advice of their own government. “Regrettably, the advice suggests the security threat to Australians travelling to Bangladesh remains as high now as it was when we postponed the Test team’s tour of that country late last year,” said James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive.
The UK Foreign Office website states there is a high threat from terrorism in Bangladesh, with Isis having claimed responsibility for a number of attacks since last September.
The England Test side are due to tour Bangladesh in October for three one-day internationals and two Test matches.
