Australia Women cricketers molested by Indore local, team files FIR in local police station

In a shocking development, two Australia Women cricketers were reportedly followed and molested by a man while returning to their hotel in Indore. The incident is said to have occurred on Thursday, October 23 morning, when the players were returning from a café to the Radisson Blue Hotel, where the entire squad is staying ahead of their last league stage match of Women's World Cup 2025 on Saturday.

The team's security manager Danny Simmons has filed a complaint at the M.I.G. Police Station on the same day in the evening. A suspect has been understood to be booked following inspection via a CCTV footage review, as per a report from The Times of India.

The person, reportedly named Aqeel — a resident from Khajrana area in the city, has been booked on the basis of 'outraging modesty and stalking'. The investigation is said to be underway and the local police have guaranteed that the safety of the players will be of utmost priority.

The recent incident of overseas players being molested, stalked, and targeted raises strict security concerns, and in a tournament like World Cup, the ICC, and the host board, BCCI in this case, should co-ordinate with local law enforcement authorities for cricketers who are simply on national duty away from home. This will ensure a smooth conduct of an event as big as the World Cup, and the local authorities will also receive appreciation from the foreign bodies, beneficial for national interest.

Moreover, the citizens of Indore — the cleanest city in the country for around a decade, should take it as a responsibility to be welcoming towards their guests and not make their stay an intimidating one. Otherwise, there may come a time when the teams may refrain to travel to the cricket-crazy nation for global tournaments and even bilateral events, reprieving the Indian fans of their favourite spectator sports.

Coming back to Australia Women, the Alyssa Healy-led side has already qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee event, and are currently in a bid to secure the first spot on the points table. To do so, they will have to beat South Africa Women on Saturday, following which, they will be meeting the hosts in the semi-final in Navi Mumbai on October 30.