Australia U19s are considering withdrawing from the U19 World Cup in Bangladesh next month which could mean a reprieve for Ireland.

Security fears forced the abandonment of this year's Australia Test tour to Bangladesh, and the feeling is that it would be hypocritical for Cricket Australia to send their teenagers after deeming it unsafe for the senior team.

Cricket's most prominent junior event is due to start in Bangladesh on January 27 but Cricket Australia confirmed that participation depended on a positive security report.

The ICC is understood to be looking at moving the tournament to Sri Lanka or South Africa if multiple countries refuse to travel to Bangladesh.

Australia may simply withdraw if the event goes ahead in Bangladesh.

“No decision has been made not to go but our involvement is security dependent,” a Cricket Australia spokesman told Australian media earlier this week.

“There is still some time and there is a security process to go through before the tour will be confirmed.”

According to a report in the West Australian newspaper, Cricket Australia security manager Sean Carroll is due to travel to Bangladesh in the coming week to inspect grounds and hotels.

Carroll's security report was the pivotal element in Australia's decision to pull out of the Test tour to Bangladesh in October following advice from the Government and the murder of an Italian diplomat in the capital, Dhaka.

If Australia do pull out, Ireland could fill the vacancy as the next ranked team - they lost a play-off earlier this year to Nepal for the final slot at the tournament.