Australia’s tour of Bangladesh not a done deal

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever’s assurance to BCB president Nazmul Hassan that the team will visit in August and September hasn’t necessarily confirmed the tour.

The series, which will reportedly feature the first Test in Chittagong and the second in Dhaka, is still subject to security assessments.

“The Australia series is final. Their chairman told me on the last day of the ICC meeting that he will come along with his wife. This was actually the first time they spoke to me about a series or tour. He came up with it, so I am sure they are coming,” said Hasan.

“The second Test starts on the third day of Eid, so the first one will be held before Eid. The dates are confirmed, but I don’t want to mention it now. The issue was a five-day break for Eid, which was too long for them. Then we decided that we can hold the second Test on the third day of Eid. There won’t be a long gap.”

The matches were initially scheduled to be played in 2015, but postponed indefinitely due to a security threat against Australian nationals in Bangladesh.

“We are still hopeful of touring Bangladesh in the near future and are working closely with the BCB to look at options, but the safety of players and officials will always come first,” a CA spokesperson said earlier this month.