Bangladesh tour in doubt as Australians return to home states

Sydney: Australia's two-Test tour to Bangladesh remained on hold yesterday with players returning to their home states after new warnings about security in the south Asian nation.

Cricket Australia delayed the departure of the Test team on Sunday after receiving advice from foreign ministry officials that militants may be planning attacks on Australian interests in the country.

"There has been no change to the situation or our current position," a Cricket Australian official told AFP via email.

Bangladesh has insisted that the players will be given the level of security usually reserved for visiting heads of state.

But the death of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter - shot three times on Monday by attackers who fled on a motorcycle in a murder claimed by Islamic State group - has escalated safety fears.