In the picture, the couple can be seen traveling in a car, followed by police officers on a bike.
Security has been tightened for all teams participating in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 after two Australian women cricketers were allegedly harassed in Indore. The incident, which took place on Thursday morning, shocked the cricketing community and prompted swift action from the authorities and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Two members of the Australian team were allegedly harassed by a man riding a motorcycle on Khajrana Road in Indore. The players were traveling from the Radisson Blu Hotel to a nearby café when the incident occurred.
The accused, identified as Aqeel Khan, was quickly arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police. The incident reportedly happened a day after Australia’s victory over England in the group stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
The players immediately shared an emergency message and their live location with team security officer Danny Simmons.
“I was reading their message when one of the players called me, crying. She told me what had happened. We immediately dispatched a car and brought them safely to the hotel,” said Simmons.
Following the report, police swiftly tracked and detained the accused. Local authorities then enhanced patrols and tightened security around the team’s accommodation and travel routes.
After the incident, security has been stepped up around all team hotels, practice venues, and stadiums in Navi Mumbai, where the semifinals and finals will take place.
Australia, the defending champions, have already secured their place in the semifinals after finishing at the top of the table. They defeated South Africa by 7 wickets in their final league match on Saturday.
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner’s wife, Monica Wright, shared a glimpse of the enhanced security on Instagram, posting a story with the caption “Police escort to the cafe,” tagging Gardner. In the picture, the couple can be seen traveling in a car, followed by police officers on a bike.
The BCCI strongly condemned the act, calling it “deeply regrettable” and expressing gratitude to the police for their prompt response.
“This is a deeply regrettable and isolated incident. India has always been known for its warmth, hospitality, and care towards all guests. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards such acts. We appreciate the swift and effective action taken by the Madhya Pradesh Police in apprehending the accused,” said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
He added that the board would strengthen its safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
“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,” Saikia added.
The incident has sparked conversations about player safety and the image of India as a host nation. Authorities have reassured all teams that robust security arrangements are now in place to ensure a safe and successful tournament.
