Two players in Australia’s Women’s World Cup cricket squad have allegedly been stalked and touched inappropriately while in India for the women’s ODI cricket tournament.
A man has been arrested and charged.
The incident is thought to have happened near the team hotel on Thursday morning, the day after Australia’s six-wicket win over England.
The players have been offered support, and are believed to be OK to continue playing in the tournament.
Australia’s group stage match against South Africa in the city went ahead on Saturday.
“[Cricket Australia] 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,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said on Saturday night.
“The incident was promptly reported to the authorities by the team’s security personnel, and the police are currently managing the situation.”
Throughout much of the tournament, the Australian team has been residing in Indore. Source: AAP / Unnati Naidu / SPP / Sipa USA
The local cricket association of Madhya Pradesh issued a statement in which they said they were “deeply pained and shocked by the disturbing incident of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour”.
“As the host, [Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association] extends sincere apologies to the Australian women’s team for this deeply distressing and unfortunate incident,” the statement added.
Australia have spent large parts of this tournament in Indore, a city of five-and-a-half million people in west central India, with the clash with South Africa their third game at Holkar Stadium.
Players will leave the city on Sunday, with a semi-final against India on Thursday in Navi Mumbai.
