Two Aus women cricketers in Indore for WC harassed

Two Australian women cricketers were sexually harassed by a motorcyclist who inappropriately touched one of them as they walked to a cafe in Indore on Thursday, casting a shadow over the Women’s ODI World Cup being hosted in the city.

- Shruti Tomar

Police arrested Aqueel Sheikh, 30, on Friday evening after the players alerted their security manager Danny Simmons, who lodged a complaint at MIG Road police station.

The incident took place on Thursday morning as the players walked from their team hotel to a nearby cafe. Sheikh followed them on his motorbike, inappropriately touched one of the players and fled the spot, Santosh Singh, commissioner of police, Indore, said.

The players immediately sent their live location to Simmons, who arranged for a car to bring them back to the hotel before filing the police complaint.

Police formed a team involving five stations and identified Sheikh through CCTV footage. He was described as wearing a white shirt and black cap during the incident. Officers arrested the Azad Nagar resident after he tried to flee and injured himself in the leg and hand.

Cricket Australia confirmed the incident in a statement. “We 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. The matter was reported by team security to police who are handling the matter.”

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called it a “deeply regrettable and isolated incident”

BHOPAL: Two Australian women cricketers were sexually harassed by a motorcyclist who inappropriately touched one of them as they walked to a cafe in Indore on Thursday, casting a shadow over the Women's World Cup being hosted in the city.