MELBOURNE — Cricket Australia (CA) is sending its own security expert to Bangladesh to determine whether or not it is safe for the Australian team to proceed with its planned tour. The Australian team has delayed its departure to Bangladesh after being warned by its government that there was a potential security risk from militants. Australia and Bangladesh cricket officials are both hopeful the tour will still go ahead and are in talks about safety arrangements. “Our position is that we want the tour to go ahead as planned,” CA Chief Executive James Sutherland told a news conference Sunday. “This has obviously come very suddenly and we needed to make this response. “Our preferred position is to continue the tour but the safety and security of our players and staff is the absolute priority.” Sutherland said CA's head of security Sean Carroll was on his way to Bangladesh and would report back after meeting with local officials and assessing the risk. “The response at this stage is very much to get our head of security on the ground,” Sutherland said. “Meetings will commence Monday. We'll have a much better understanding there. It's just one step at a time at the moment.” The Australians delayed their planned departure after Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a warning Friday that militants in Bangladesh could be planning an attack on tourists. Bangladesh Cricket Board Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury released a statement saying he understood Australia's concern but was sure the team would be safe and the tour would go ahead. “There is no alarm regarding security as far as we are concerned and we have taken the opinion of all relevant agencies because safety of the Australian team is our priority, as it is with all visiting teams to Bangladesh,” he said. “The CA has stated its commitment to the series already in a media release and we are confident that the tour will commence with minimum delay.” Australia has not played a Test match in Bangladesh for a decade but was scheduled to play back-to-back Tests in Chittagong and Dhaka in October. Morkel replaces Wiese In Johannesburg, South Africa all-rounder Albie Morkel has been called up for a three-match Twenty20 (T20) series in India starting next Friday after David Wiese withdrew with a hand injury. T20 skipper Faf du Plessis told reporters that 34-year-old Morkel was a welcome inclusion. “Albie brings a lot of experience and is getting another opportunity because he is a quality player,” said Du Plessis. Batsman Rilee Rossouw has been ruled out of the five ODI series that follows the T20 matches having failed to recover from a foot stress fracture. Uncapped Khaya Zondo, already part of the T20 squad, takes his place. The Proteas also play four Tests in the longest tour of India it has undertaken. The tour stretches from Oct. 2 to Dec. 7. — Agencies
