Australia were due to play two test matches against Bangladesh in Chittagong, with the first scheduled to start on October 9, but their governing body have pulled the team out after Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was shot dead in capital city Dhaka, with militant group Islamic State claiming they initiated the attack.

The incident follows mounting issues in Afghanistan after at least nine people were killed and 33 wounded in a bomb attack during a sports match in the Eastern part of the country.

The police chief of Paktika province, the region where the attack took place, Zarawar Zahid, claimed it was a volleyball match being played, although the Afghan Interior Ministry suggested a cricket match was taking place.

The Taliban have denied involvement in the incident, where “the enemy had placed explosives on a motorbike and detonated it on the edge of the volleyball playground”, according to Zahid.

Islamic State had also claimed responsibility for launching assaults on various checkpoints in Afghan province Nangarhar, close to the border with Pakistan, which occurred the same day as the attack on the sports match.

“An independent security assessment found a risk of terrorism in Bangladesh targeting Australian nationals,” a CA statement read.

The organisation’s chief executive James Sutherland insisted they had worked “tirelessly to find a way for the tour to proceed”.

“In the end it was simply not possible,” he added.

“We had hoped that the security concerns would fade, but unfortunately the advice we have received from government, our own security experts and independent security advisers has clearly indicated that there are now high risks to our people should they make the trip.

"From an Australian perspective, the safety of our players and officials is our highest priority.

“We will work with the Bangladesh Cricket Board to reschedule the tour as soon as possible.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) admitted their disappointment at Australia’s decision, claiming the country was “one of the safest environments for holding international sporting events”.

The BCB had even offered to upgrade the security level of the Australian players to “VVIP”, which would see them given the same treatment as heads of state.