Australia will send a representative to an ICC security meeting in crisis-torn Bangladesh next week as concerns rise about the nation’s ability to guarantee player safety in this year’s World Twenty20 tournament. Violence and strikes surrounded elections in Bangladesh this month. Cricket Australia is sending its anti-corruption and security manager, Sean Carroll, to a briefing on January 20 that will be attended by ICC security chiefs and representatives of the other countries competing in the 16-nation event, reports Sydney Morning Herald. Australia are scheduled to be based in the capital, Dhaka, and play all their games there but like other teams want to ensure their players and staff will not be in danger. “The safety and security of the Australian team and its support staff is Cricket Australia’s highest priority,” a CA spokesman said. “Ahead of the World T20 in Bangladesh, we will work with the ICC to undertake a thorough review of risks and proposed security arrangements for the tournament.” The players, via the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, will also be represented at the security meeting and will be guided by the advice of security advisor Reg Dickason and his company Eastern Star International. An Australian who now works as a security consultant with the English team, Dickason will provide an independent threat assessment to FICA. “The players and the player associations have a high level of trust in his advice,” said FICA executive chairman Paul Marsh. “We’ve gone on plenty of tours when he’s said it’s OK and we’ve pulled out of some events when he’s suggested that it’s not. We’ve got a high level of trust there and that’s what we’ll be relying on as we move towards this event.”
Source: UNBConnect