Bangladesh cricket authorities have played down security fears

Bangladesh cricket authorities have played down security fears after a bomb explosion outside the hotel of a West Indian touring team sparked jitters ahead of the World Twenty20 next March.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday withdrew their Under-19 national cricket team from a seven-match series in Bangladesh after the bombing in the port city of Chittagong.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials said they were trying to persuade the team to stay on.

"We've talked to West Indies Under-19 team management this morning. They are happy with the arrangements and the extra security we have made," BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP.

"We're trying to talk to the WICB to assure them that things are all right here. It was an isolated incident. The players were not targeted."

Chowdhury said the blast in Chittagong amid escalating violence in the unrest-plagued nation would not affect the 16-nation World Twenty20 in March and April.

"We are confident the situation would be normal by then," he said.

An ICC spokesman told AFP the world body was "actively monitoring" the situation in Bangladesh and stressed it gave the highest priority to the safety of all participants in ICC events.

"Security plans for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 have been drafted and are continually being reviewed and updated," the spokesman wrote in an email.

"As is the case for any event, the ICC is actively monitoring the situation and continues to work closely with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to ensure that informed decisions can be made and that plans are appropriate."

Police said a small device went off during a nationwide transport blockade on Saturday evening outside Hotel Agrabad in Chittagong.