Players of Australian Women’s Team Molested in Indore Ahead of World Cup Game

Surprisingly, Cricket Australia did not report the molestation incident to the ICC, as they had broken protocol by allowing players out alone in the city.

Players of Australian Women’s Team Molested in Indore Ahead of World Cup Game

Two Australia Women's team players were molested in Indore. (via Hindustan Times)

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Two Australian Women’s team cricketers were molested in Indore, ahead of the side’s final group stage encounter against South Africa at the Holkar Stadium. The two female players were stalked and touched by a motorcyclist, raising serious questions over women’s security in India. 

Australia, on top of the 2025 Women’s World Cup standings, faced off against South Africa. Both teams were in a race to finish on top of the standings, with only a point separating them prior to the match. However, an ugly incident in Indore, two days before the encounter, took center-stage. On October 23, two Australia Women’s players were allegedly molested on the, outside the team hotel in Indore.

In the morning after Australia’s six-wicket victory over England in Indore, the two players were walking to a cafe outside the team hotel. However, their decision to venture outside the Radisson Blu premises took a horrific turn, as they were molested and stalked by a male motorcyclist on the Khajrana Road area. The man reportedly followed them for a period before touching one of the players inappropriately and quickly fleeing the scene.

The duo then decided to report the matter to team security officer Danny Simmons, following which the matter was taken up by the police. Indore ACP Himani Mishra met the two players and registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the culprit, who was later identified as an Aqeel Khan, a resident of the Azad Nagar area of the city. Khan was charged under section 74 (use of criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty) and section 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police were able to trace and apprehend him by tracking the motorcycle’s number, based on information provided by an eyewitness. Cricket Australia released an official statement to confirm the incident, while noting that the matter had been reported to the police. Indore Police Commissionerate also informed that it held a meeting with the stakeholders, BCCI and MPCA officials over readjusting the security protocols in place.

Indore is is one of the four host venues for the ongoing 2025 Women’s World Cup, alongside Navi Mumbai, Guwahati and Vizag. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also spoke about the gravity of the incident, noting that it brings ‘disrepute’ to the country, and hoped for the culprit to be punished severely. 

Dominant Australia decimate South Africa for 97 runs in final World Cup group stage encounter 

The Australian Women’s side continued its dominant run, decimating South Africa Women for just 97 runs in the first innings of their final group stage match at the ongoing 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup. The Proteas got bowled out within 24 overs of their innings. 

Australia Women vs. South Africa Women
Australia bowled out South Africa for a paltry first innings total of 97 runs, in their final group stage encounter. (via Hindustan Times)

Both Australia and South Africa were fighting for the top spot on the standings, having already secured their place in the knock-out stages of the 2025 Women’s World Cup. They came off dominant victories, with the Proteas having beaten Pakistan by 150 runs in their sixth group stage match in Colombo, while the Aussies defeated third-placed England by six wickets at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Put to bat first, South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was the only player who went past the 30-run mark, while seven others were dismissed for single-digit scores. Keeper Sinalo Jafta contributed with 29 runs off 17 balls. For the seven-time WC winners, Alana King finished with unbelievable figures of 7/18 in her seven-over spell, making it the first seven-wicket haul in a Women’s World Cup match.

Apart from spinner Alana King, three others picked wickets for Australia Women, including Megan Schutt, Kim Garth and Ashleigh Gardner. They chased down the 98-run with ease in just 16.5 overs with seven wickets in hand, to finish on top of the 2025 Women’s WC standings. 

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