Bangladesh tightens security after rock hits Australian team bus

AFP

Security was tightened around the Australian cricket team in Bangladesh on Tuesday after a bus carrying the team was hit by a rock, which could have been thrown up by another vehicle, Cricket Australia said.

The incident happened on Monday as the players were traveling back to their hotel after the first day's play in the second and final test against Bangladesh in Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

"En route back to the hotel last night a window on the Australian team bus was broken. No one was injured in the incident," CA security manager Sean Carroll said in a statement.

"Team security personnel are currently in discussion with local authorities while they investigate the cause, which is believed to have come from a small rock or stone," he said.

Carroll said Bangladesh authorities were taking the incident seriously and security had been increased along the route on which the team travels between the ground and its hotel.

Bangladeshi authorities, however, suggested the incident could have been an accident.

Chittagong division police commissioner Mohammad Iqbal Bahar said another vehicle escorting the team bus could have kicked up a loose rock, which hit the bus window.

"We inquired into it yesterday. Construction works are going on along the route and one of the escorting vehicles sent the rock flying into the window of the team bus," Bahar told Reuters.

Australia postponed its 2015 tour of Bangladesh because of security fears in the South Asian nation, and also withdrew from the under-19 World Cup there last year for the same reason.

Bangladesh faces a humanitarian crisis as almost 90,000 Rohingya Muslims flee from violence across the border in Myanmar.

It has also suffered periodic attacks by militants, often against foreigners, liberals and religious minorities.

Carroll said just before the second day's play began in Chittagong on Tuesday that the test would go ahead.

"We are comfortable with the response from the Bangladesh authorities and the increased security presence we have been provided in light of the incident," he said.

On the field, David Warner made 88 not out and featured in two significant partnerships to lead Australia's robust reply to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 305 in the second test.

Smarting from its embarrassing defeat inside four days in Dhaka, Australia's top order fired up to help it reach 225-2 as the tourists, still 80 runs behind, press for a pride-salvaging victory in Chittagong.

Known for his explosive batting, Warner hit only four boundaries in his patient knock as he kept Australia on course for a handy first-innings lead which often clinches test matches in the subcontinent.

Peter Handscomb, Warner's partner in their unbroken 127-run stand, braved Bangladesh's relentless spin assault and dehydration to remain not out on 69. His fourth test fifty included five boundaries.

Earlier, Nathan Lyon claimed 7-94, his second-best figure, as Bangladesh added 52 runs to its overnight score of 253-6 before collapsing.