Kolkata: The Indian cricket team's departure to Bangladesh, which was scheduled for Tuesday (Dec 7, 2004), was postponed following a death threat issued by a militant group in Dhaka.

Board president-elect Ranbir Singh Mahendra told reporters that the Indian team will not leave for Bangladesh before December 8 following an advise from the Government.

"We have received a letter from the Government asking us not to send the team before December 8," he said.

Cricket Board's joint secretary Goutam Dasgupta said the Board has informed its Bangladesh counterpart about the delay in departure and also that it was waiting for a clearance from the Government.

Sports Minister Sunil Dutt said in New Delhi that it had asked the BCCI to "hold on till the Government takes a decision on the tour."

Officials of the External Affairs, Home and Sports Ministry besides that of the Board would leave for Bangladesh tomorrow to assess the situation in the light of the threat handed out by the little-known 'Harkat-ul-Zihad' in a letter to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.