Militants threaten Indian team

India's tour of Bangladesh has been put in doubt as an extremist Islamic militant group, Harkat-ul-Jihad, has issued a warning stating that they will kill Indian cricketers, if the tour goes ahead.

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Ranbir Singh Mahendra, has postponed the team's departure for Dhaka, originally scheduled for December 7, indefinitely, pending security assessment, and ultimately advice from the central government.

The BBCI has appointed a security team, headed by Inspector General rank officer Yashowardhan Azad, which would visit Dhaka and Chittagong and assess the security in the stadiums and hotels where the Indian cricketers would play and stay.

The threat, handed out to Indian High Commission in Dhaka, is apparently from a little heard militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad. It said: "We are happy that India is coming to Bangladesh. We are ready to kill them. Hindus killed 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. We will take revenge."

Though, BBC News, who first reported of the threat, have gone of record to say it's a hoax, the Indian authorities aren't taking any risks, and thus the indefinite postponement.

BCCI Joint Secretary Goutam Dasgupta, said the Board has informed its Bangladesh counterpart about the delay in departure, as they are waiting for the government's decision.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official Reazuddin al-Mamun, however told a press conference in Dhaka that they do not see any reason for the India to call off the tour, for they are ensuring tighest of security measures.

Posted by Sudeep