Australia’s Megan Schutt celebrates with teammates (Photo: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Two Australian women cricketers were molested and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore on Thursday morning, Cricket Australia confirmed. The accused, identified as Akil Khan, was immediately arrested and investigation is on.Cricket Australia said: “CA can confirm that two members of the Australian women’s team were inappropriately approached and touched by a biker while walking to a cafe in Indore. The matter has been reported by team security to the police, who are investigating the matter.”
Two Australian women cricketers stalked and harassed in Indore; Police arrested the accused amid outrage
The incident happened around 11 a.m., roughly half a kilometer from the players’ hotel. The motorcyclist allegedly followed them, inappropriately touched one player and fled the scene. The players immediately informed their team security officer, Danny Simmons, who coordinated with local security and secured the vehicle to ensure their safety.The police investigation included a review of CCTV footage, hotel records and statements from security staff and witnesses. A passerby’s information on the motorcycle’s license plate helped authorities track down Khan. He was arrested on Friday and charged under Sections 74 (use of criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman) and 78 (harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police noted that Khan has previous criminal cases registered against him.Madhya Pradesh Minister of State Kailash Vijayvargiya said of the incident, “This is not just a misbehavior of the player but a stain on India’s image. Strictest action must be taken against those responsible so that no one dares to tarnish the nation’s image in future.” He also reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance and called for a punishment that serves as an example.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly condemned the incident. Secretary Devajit Saikia described it as “highly reprehensible but misguided” and reaffirmed the board’s commitment to player safety. “India is known for its hospitality and care. We have zero tolerance for such incidents. We appreciate the (Madhya Pradesh) state police for their swift action to nab the culprit. Let the law punish the culprit. We assure to review our security protocols if necessary to further tighten security,” he said.Meanwhile, the Australian team continued their strong World Cup campaign, defeating South Africa by seven wickets in their final group stage match in Indore. The win secured the group lead with 13 points from seven matches and set up a semi-final clash against India’s Harmanpreet Kaur.The incident sparked outrage, highlighted the need for increased security measures for visiting teams and raised questions about the safety of players during international tournaments in India.
