Australia coach Darren Lehmann has conceded their Test series in Bangladesh is less likely to happen as discussions over the security in the country continue, reports allsports.com.gh.
Lehmann and his team were due to depart for Bangladesh on Monday for the two-Test series, which was scheduled to start in Chittagong on October 9 following a three-day warm-up game in Dhaka on Saturday.
However, their departure was put on hold on the back of a warning from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s of ‘reliable information’ of a threat to Australians in Bangladesh.
A Cricket Australia security delegation returned from a visit to Bangladesh on Tuesday, with the killing of an Italian aid worker during their time in the country increasing the likelihood of the tour being abandoned.
And, with members of the squad having returned to their state teams, Lehmann admitted to 5AA Radio: ‘It’s getting pretty tight now, to be honest.
‘At the end of the day we have to wait and see what the boards and the security come up with, but we have to make the right decision for player and staff safety.
‘We’re still on hold. The security guys got back from Bangladesh so they’re obviously speaking to [the CA] board as we speak. Hopefully we come to some sort of answer in the next 24 hours or so.’
Australia have named a revamped squad for the series, with top-order batsman Cameron Bancroft and fast bowler Andrew Fekete called up for potential debuts.
‘The young side is exciting,’ Lehmann added. ‘It will be an exciting time if we get there and play, if we don’t we’ll go to plan B.
‘I can’t say what plan B is. But they’re back in their state squads at the moment. We’ve put them back into training with their state sides and we’ll make a decision from there.’
-With New Age input
