Two players from the Australian women’s cricket team were allegedly stalked and sexually harassed while they were staying in Indore, India, for the ICC Women’s World Cup. The incident occurred on Thursday morning, a day after the team’s victory over England, sparking immediate concern over player safety.
The cricketers were walking the short distance from their hotel to a local café when a motorcyclist allegedly approached them and “inappropriately touched” one of the players. The two cricketers immediately informed their team security officer, who promptly reported the matter to local police.
Swift Arrest and Charges Filed
Acting on the team’s complaint, police launched an intensive investigation. Their efforts were significantly aided by a quick-thinking witness who managed to record the motorcyclist’s registration number.
Officers later identified the suspect as Akil Khan (also reported as Aqueel Khan), who was arrested on Thursday night. Police confirmed that Khan has a history of prior criminal cases and is being held for further investigation. He has been charged under Sections 74 and 78 of the criminal code, which deal with the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty, and stalking, respectively.
Official Condemnation and Security Review
Both Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) swiftly condemned the act. CA confirmed that two team members were "approached and touched inappropriately" and that the matter was being handled by the police.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia called it a "deeply regrettable and isolated incident." He commended the Madhya Pradesh Police for their "swift and effective action" in apprehending the accused. Saikia also stressed that the BCCI would "review our existing safety protocols and strengthen them further, if necessary, to ensure such incidents are not repeated."
Team Focus Shifts to Semi-Final
Despite the distressing incident, the Australian side remained focused on their World Cup campaign. They wrapped up the opening phase of the tournament by securing the top spot in the points table, following a crushing seven-wicket victory over South Africa.
The defending champions will now travel to Navi Mumbai to face hosts India in a blockbuster second semi-final scheduled for Thursday. The team’s resilience and dominant performance ensure they enter the knockout stage with strong momentum.
–AGENCIES
