- Athletes must alert security before leaving venues, says the minister.
- Two Australian cricketers reported being harassed near the hotel.
- Police arrested a 29-year-old suspect within hours.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the alleged assault of two Australian female cricketers last week in Indore a “lesson” in precautions for players, urging athletes to alert security or local authorities before leaving team venues.
Vijayvargiya said star athletes often underestimate the public frenzy and should take that into account in their moves. “Sometimes players don’t realize how popular they are… they have to be careful. This incident happened, it’s a lesson for everyone,” he said, adding that teams should inform security or administration “before leaving.”
He reiterated to local media that even if there was a security breach, players also shared responsibility for coordinating movements.
Two members of the Australian women’s cricket team were allegedly harassed and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist as they headed to a cafe in the central Indian city of Indore on Thursday morning, sparking a swift police operation and arrest within hours, officials and local media said. The players reported the incident to team security, who filed a first information report.
Police said the man approached the players near the Indore Ring Road, about 500 meters from the team hotel and away from the Holkar Stadium, where Australia was playing its Women’s World Cup matches.
A suspect with a criminal record was arrested approximately six hours after the report; Authorities said he faced charges under the new Indian Penal Code for assault and stalking.
Cricket Australia and Indian cricket authorities condemned the incident. The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, which oversees the Indore venue, apologized and called the episode a stain on the city’s reputation for hospitality. Indian board officials said they would review and strengthen event security protocols around players in coordination with police.
International media, including P.A. And Reuterssaid the suspect was found through local surveillance and arrested the same day.
Australia remained in Indore for successive World Cup matches against England and South Africa. The incident reignited discussions about off-field safety for touring female athletes, with both national boards indicating additional measures could be adopted for the remainder of the tournament.
