Windies colts withdraw from Bangladesh

Dhaka: West Indies have withdrawn their under-19 cricket team from a tour of Bangladesh after a bomb went off near the hotel they were staying at in Chittagong.

The crude bomb exploded during a transport blockade on Saturday evening in the port city with the decision to leave taken on the advice of security manager Paul Slowe, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said in a statement.

"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," the WICB said. "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 has been rocked by violent protests and a series of shutdowns. There was no immediate comment from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.