A man has been arrested for approaching two of Australia’s women cricketers and allegedly touching them inappropriately in Indore, Indian police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Thursday in Indore, a day off for the team after their six-wicket victory over England.
The two players were walking to a cafe from their hotel when they were allegedly approached by a motorcyclist. “The security officers of the women’s Australian cricket team filed a complaint that two members of the team faced inappropriate behaviour,” the additional deputy commissioner of police, Rajesh Dandotiya, told Indian news agency ANI. “An FIR [first information report] was registered, and the accused was identified and arrested following an intensive strategic operation.”
He has been charged under sections 74 and 78 of the criminal code that deal with assault or using criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty and stalking, respectively. “We are examining if there were any shortfalls in the security protocols,” Dandotiya added.
Cricket Australia had earlier said in a statement: “We can confirm two members of the Australian women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore. The matter was reported by team security to police who are handling the matter.”
The players have been offered support, and will continue playing in the tournament. The International Cricket Council has been approached for comment.
Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said it was a “deeply regrettable and isolated incident”. He continued: “We appreciate the swift and effective action taken by the Madhya Pradesh Police in apprehending the accused. The law will take its due course to ensure justice is served
“We will also review our existing safety protocols and strengthen them further, if necessary, to ensure such incidents are not repeated.”
News of an arrest broke as Australia took to the field for their final-round match, with a spot in the semi-finals already secured. Australia have spent large parts of this tournament in Indore, with Saturday’s seven-wicket thrashing of South Africa their third game at Holkar Stadium.
Alana King took a record seven for 18, the spinner’s seven-over spell routing South Africa for 97 in 24 overs, while Australia chased the total down with 98 for three in only 16.5 overs. It was the best bowling spell at the Women’s Cricket World Cup – the first instance of a seven-wicket haul in tournament history. King surpassed Jackie Lord’s six for 10 for New Zealand against India in 1982.
