Two Australian Players Harassed in Indore, Accused Arrested
Two Australian women cricketers were harassed by a motorcyclist in Indore, India; the suspect was swiftly arrested and charged under local law.
Cricraze Editor
Two members of Australia’s women’s cricket team were allegedly harassed by a motorcyclist in Indore on Thursday morning, just two days before their Women’s World Cup match against South Africa.
According to the Press Trust of India, the incident occurred while the players were walking to a nearby café from their team hotel. Police said a man on a motorcycle followed them and touched one of the players inappropriately before fleeing the scene.
The players immediately informed their team security officer, Danny Simmons, who contacted local security officials. A vehicle was dispatched to escort the players back to the hotel. A bystander noted the motorcycle’s registration number, enabling police to trace and arrest the suspect later that day.
The accused has been booked under Sections 74 (use of criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty) and 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, India’s new criminal code.
Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the incident in a statement, saying: “CA can confirm two members of the Australian women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café in Indore. The matter was reported by team security to police, who are handling the matter.”
Indore’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, Himani Mishra, met the players in the Khajrana Road area following the incident and recorded their statements.
However, reports suggest that neither Cricket Australia nor the team management immediately informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the incident. An ICC spokesman told PTI that the governing body, in coordination with the BCCI and local police, ensured the suspect’s arrest. “They breached the protocols by allowing players to go out unescorted in the city,” the spokesman added.
The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) also acknowledged the incident, describing it as “unfortunate.” An MPCA official said, “We have reported it to the police, and the authorities have tracked down the culprit. We’re cooperating with the investigation and are glad the players are fine and playing today.”
The Australian team faced South Africa in a league match in Indore on Saturday, with both players participating in the game.
The episode has raised renewed concerns about player security during major international tournaments in India, particularly with matches being played across multiple cities in the ongoing Women’s World Cup 2025.