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BCB keep fingers crossed

40Bangladesh on Monday promised Australia the top-level security and is now anxiously waiting for the Australian response to end the ongoing confusion regarding the arrival of Australia cricket team for the two-Test series in October.
Visiting Cricket Australia anti-corruption and security officer Sean Carroll spent a busy day on Monday holding series of meetings with security officials and top authority of Bangladesh government.
Carroll, who was joined by two other officials late on Sunday, met home minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the secretariat in the morning to discuss the security arrangements.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan and some other directors also attended the meeting along with representatives of security agencies including Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, National Security Intelligence.
Australian high commissioner to Dhaka Greg Wilcock was also present during the meeting.
‘The highest security protocol will be provided for the Australian cricket team,’ home minister Asaduzzaman told reporters after the meeting.
Australia delayed Sunday’s planned departure for series after the foreign affairs ministry in Canberra warned that ‘militants may be planning to target Australian interests.’
BCB president Nazmul Hasan was hopeful that the series will back on track after the assurance from the highest authority of the government.
‘We assured them that team will be provided security similar to the one that we gave teams during the ICC World Twenty20,’ Nazmul told reporters after the meeting. ‘It’s almost VVIP security Cup,’ said Nazmul.
There was no clear promise from the Australian side, however.
Australian High Commissioner Wilcock said that they are happy with the outcome though the decision will be taken by Cricket Australia.
‘I think as two cricket loving nations, we want to play cricket,’ he said. ‘At the same time the Australian government very simply issued update awareness on travel awareness communicating additional guidance in safety and security in Bangladesh.
‘As a result of that we are here discussing security matters with the authority of Bangladesh. We have enjoyed the time and generosity and expertise of the honorable minister and the senior police officials.
BCB’s chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury said they are in constant touch with Cricket Australia regarding the matter.
‘We are keeping regular contact with CA and are trying to convince them that there is no reason of fear,’ he said. ‘We are hoping that every match will be played as per schedule,’ he said.
Considering the series back on track, the BCB also started necessary preparation for the series as it on Monday announced the 14-men Bangladesh squad for the first Test in Chittagong and also sought applications for media accreditations.
Some development behind the curtains also made BCB hopeful.
Cricket Australia said it has booked the flight on Tuesday night so that the players can arrive in time to play the warm-up match at Fatullah from October 3-5.
Australia team’s operations manager Gavin Dovey and team security officer Frank da Macey are expected to stay back in Bangladesh while Carroll is scheduled to leave to report back to CA.
Under the current schedule, the two Test matches will be held from October 9-13 and October 17-21 respectively in Chittagong and Dhaka.