The five-member security team, led by India's Inspector General of Police for VIP Security, Yashovardhan Azad, held meetings with the home ministry officials here yesterday where they were again assured by Dhaka of a "foolproof" security for the cricketers during their stay here.

The team will visit Pan-Pacific Hotel Sonargaon, where the Indian cricket team will be based during their 20-day stay in Dhaka, and Bangabandhu National Stadium, the venue for the first Test and the last two one-day internationals.

The team will submit a report on whether it is safe for the squad to go through with the tour.

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar told reporters at the home ministry yesterday, "We have investigated the matter and it is a hoax. No such organisation exists on Bangladeshi territory."

"We have assured them of the highest security for the cricket team as we plan to make every effort to ensure their safety," he added.

Emerging from the meeting at the home ministry, Reazuddin Al Mamun, Media Committee chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), told reporters, "We had a cordial meeting. They were really concerned about the security of the Indian cricketers but, we have assured them of their safety during their tour."

"We expect a decision from the inspection team after their visit to the hotel and the first Test venue tomorrow (today)," Babar said. "If possible, they might visit the venue for the second Test match in Chittagong. If it is not possible tomorrow (today), they will visit it the day after."

Speaking to reporters on their arrival at Zia International Airport yesterday, KBS Katoch, member of the security team and joint-secretary of India's external affairs ministry, did not rule out the possibility of the threat being a hoax. But he was reluctant to reach a conclusion before their own investigation and home ministry briefings today.

"We have come to check the full security of the Indian cricket team," Katoch said. "We will give our decision tomorrow (today)."

Indian officials in New Delhi and Indian High Commission officials in Dhaka have said the tour, now scheduled to start on December 8, would be on hold until the Indian authorities assess the finds of the five-member inspection team.

Apart from Azad, the other four members of the inspection team are Indian cricket team's Tour Manager Sudhakar Rao, Indian cricket board's Director Of Commu-nications Amrit Mathur and Director of Indian Ministry of Home Affairs Shantanu Mukherjee.

Azad also led the security team to Pakistan before the historic Indo-Pak Test series in March this year, where he was responsible for giving the Indian team the go-ahead to visit Pakistan for their first full-tour of Pakistan after 14 years.

The Indian High Commission officials here said the embassy had received a letter faxed on Sunday from Islamist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad threatening the cricketers with serious consequences if they went ahead with the trip.

Little is known about the group or their existence.