West Indies have withdrawn their Under-19 national cricket team from a tour of Bangladesh after a bomb explosion in the port city of Chittagong sparked fears over the squad's safety and security.
Bomb explosion sparks safety fears
Police said a small device went off during a nationwide strike on Saturday evening outside Hotel Agrabad in Bangladesh's second largest city where the visiting team were staying.
Although there were no injuries in the incident, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday decided to withdraw their squad after considering a report from their security manager Paul Slowe, a statement said.
"The report emphasised that the current security environment in Bangladesh is not conducive to the playing of cricket in light of the 72 hours nationwide blockade and calls for countrywide dawn to dusk protest," said the WICB.
"Travel arrangements are being made to allow for the team's return to the Caribbean as quickly as possible. The team will remain safely accommodated at the team hotel under adequate security protection until departure from Bangladesh."
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials had held a series of meetings with the visitors Sunday morning in an effort to reassure their visitors.
"We've assured them of stepped-up security and they are now convinced," BCB director Akram Khan told AFP earlier in the day in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is due to host the 2014 World Twenty20 championship in March and April next year, in which Australia will compete, with Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet all scheduled to host matches.