Australia players denied entry to Dhaka golf course after mix-up

A minor logistical breakdown led to an awkward moment for the Australian men’s cricket team in Dhaka, after several players were denied entry to a golf course during their scheduled rest day ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh.

The visiting squad, currently in Bangladesh for a white-ball tour following their Pakistan assignment, arrived on June 5 for a series consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is. The first ODI is scheduled for June 9 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

However, plans for a relaxed outing at a Dhaka golf facility took an unexpected turn when entry permissions did not match the number of players who eventually showed up. While only a small group was initially expected to participate, more squad members later decided to join, creating a mismatch in transport and security clearance arrangements.

According to reports, permission had been secured in advance for a limited group, with arrangements made for a single vehicle. When the number of players increased, the requirement shifted to a larger team bus, which had not been cleared for access through the restricted zone.

The golf course is located within a sensitive cantonment area, where strict security protocols require advance approval for all vehicles and personnel. As a result, players whose names were not included in the original clearance list were stopped at the entrance and denied entry.

Initial speculation suggested that security concerns may have caused the restriction, leading to some confusion among touring party members. However, officials clarified that the issue stemmed purely from incomplete logistical communication rather than any security-related dispute.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board (Bangladesh Cricket Board) official, speaking anonymously, said the situation arose due to last-minute changes in the group size. He explained that clearance had been arranged for a small group, but the sudden increase in participants required revised approval, which was not available in time.

The official added that organisers remain committed to supporting visiting teams but stressed the importance of timely coordination to avoid such misunderstandings.

Despite the brief inconvenience, the Australian squad is expected to continue preparations for the ODI series, with training sessions and official fixtures set to proceed as scheduled. The incident is not expected to affect the tour itinerary.

Australia squads for Bangladesh series:

ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott and Adam Zampa.

T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw and Adam