Bermuda’s concerns about travelling to Uganda for the Pepsi World Cricket League Division Three tournament were put to rest yesterday with the announcement by the International Cricket Council that the event has been shifted to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Cricket’s world governing body was ultimately backed into a corner over Uganda hosting the tournament after security concerns were flagged up in the wake of an alleged terrorist plot that was thwarted in Kampala this month.

In a statement, the ICC said that it had decided to shift the event after co-ordinating with “a range of local authorities and security experts”.

David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said: “The safety and security of players and officials is of paramount importance to the ICC, and despite the excellent co-operation received from the Ugandan Government and the Uganda Cricket Association, due to recent events beyond the control of the ICC and the Uganda Cricket Association, we were ultimately uncertain if a secure environment could still be provided.

“Thankfully, the Malaysian Cricket Association has offered to host the tournament at short notice, and, based on previous experience, we anticipate a successful event in Kuala Lumpur.”

Bermuda, whose 14-man squad was announced yesterday, will be joined in Kuala Lumpur by the new host nation, Nepal, Singapore, Uganda and the United States.

The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control applauded yesterday’s decision, although there was also a degree of sympathy for Uganda. “It was the right thing to do,” Neil Speight, the BCB chief executive, said.

“The ICC obviously has responsibility for all competing teams. I know a number of the Associate members have had concerns and it’s incumbent on everyone to look at the dangers of travelling.

“It’s obviously disappointing for Uganda. I know they were looking forward to hosting the tournament and it’s unfortunate what’s been going on with them.

“Obviously, with the United States being involved, that heightens the risk. Moving the tournament to Malaysia certainly lowers that risk profile and everyone should feel happy about it.

“Hopefully, things will get better in Uganda soon and they will get their turn.”

The Americans were the first to raise concerns about safety, with as many as 11 of their players apparently unwilling to travel to the East African country, and Bermudas’s Lionel Cann ramped up the pressure on the ICC last week with a steadfast refusal to travel if the world governing body stuck with the original venue.

The foiled terrorist plot was said to involve al-Shahaad, a jihadist group based in Somalia that pledges allegiance to al-Qaeda, which is public enemy number one in the US-led “War on Terror”.

Al-Shahaad were responsible for the attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya, which claimed 67 lives, including those of four terrorists. Kenya shares a border with Uganda.

“Any US national team could become a target, but we are the US cricket team not a US Olympic team,” an unnamed US player said at the Twenty20 national championship last month.

“[President] Obama doesn’t know who we are. With a lower profile, who knows what kind of security we would get?”

The BCB, while privately having concerns, had been keeping its cards close to its chest in following news coming out of Dubai, where the head offices of the ICC are located. At about 6.30am yesterday, the Board had the answer that most had been hoping for.

“This [talks about the state of security in Uganda] has been going on behind the scenes for a number of months and we’ve constantly reiterated to the players and coaching staff that we were never going to take a risk with anyone, particularly security-related,” Speight added.

“We’ve been talking to the players and coaching staff and a number of them had concerns.

“Now they will be able to focus on scoring runs and taking wickets. I think people will view Malaysia — as long as it doesn’t rain — as a venue they will enjoy. It’s going to be a tough tournament.”

The change of plans has resulted in the tournament being brought forward by three days so that it will now be played from October 23 to 30.