DHAKA: Australia have pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh starting on January 27 due to security concerns.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said the decision was taken after advice from the government stated that the threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh was as high as when the senior team had pulled out of their tour in October last year, reports espncricinfo.

The ICC has invited Ireland, who were runners-up in the qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur in October, to replace Australia in the tournament.

“For some time we have been working closely with ICC security advisors and monitoring the security situation in Bangladesh and have been keeping our players, officials and the players’ parents as up to date as possible,” Sutherland said.

“Regrettably, the advice from our Government suggests that 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.

“Included in that is reliable information suggesting there is a high threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh and the knowledge that the Australian Government has authorised the dependants of posted diplomatic staff in Bangladesh to return home to Australia.

“In the end, with all of the information and advice we have received, we feel we had no alternative other than to make this difficult decision.”

The ICC said it respected CA’s decision but was disappointed by it.

“The ICC takes its responsibilities around the safety and security of ICC events extremely seriously,” its chief David Richardson said.

“And taking into consideration the full and unequivocal support of the Bangladesh government that has been afforded to us at the highest level and through all local security agencies, the advice we have received from our own and independent security experts, and the robust security plan that has been developed, the ICC remains of the view the it is appropriate for event planning to continue as scheduled.

The BCB told ESPNcricinfo that it had cooperated fully with the ICC regarding security for the event, but the final decision to visit lay with individual countries.

“We have given a strong security plan to the ICC and took into consideration everything it asked us to do,” Jalal Yunus, the BCB's head of media, said. “Whether a member nation decides on coming to Bangladesh or not, is up to them.”

Sutherland said CA had not taken the decision lightly and apologised to the ICC and BCB for inconvenience caused by the late withdrawal.

Australia were in Group D of the Under-19 World Cup along with India, Nepal and New Zealand.

BDST: 1038 HRS, JAN 05, 2016
SR