New Delhi: India’s cricket tour of Zimbabwe was on Sunday hit by a massive controversy after an official associated with one of the sponsors of the series was arrested for alleged rape even though he denied the charge.
The storm erupted after the Zimbabwean media reported that an unnamed Indian cricketer had been arrested on charges of rape.
The reports stated that India’s ambassador to the African nation, R. Masakui, had tried to prevent the player’s arrest on Saturday night at a Harare hotel.
However, official sources in India denied the report, stating that the person arrested was in fact affiliated to one of the sponsors of the ongoing limited-overs series.
“Regarding media reports of an Indian cricketer being involved in an alleged case of rape in Harare, we have spoken to our Ambassador to Zimbabwe. The report is totally false. No Indian cricketer is involved,” the sources said.
“An Indian affiliated with one of the sponsors has been arrested. He has also denied the charge and said he is ready for a DNA test to prove his innocence. Our Ambassador is following the matter closely,” they added.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on its part, refused to comment, claiming that it is yet to ascertain the exact facts of the issue.
“We are keeping a close watch on the development. It is a serious issue. Being aware of the sensitive nature of the issue, the BCCI won’t make comments without ascertaining facts,” said a top board official on condition of anonymity.
India are currently engaged in a three-match Twenty20 series against the hosts after sweeping the ODIs 3-0.
The visitors had lost the opening T20 in Harare on Saturday and will be playing the second match on Monday at the same venue.
It was the first time that the young team was tested on the tour and they faltered during key moments to suffer an unexpected loss. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to get his team over the line in the last over but equally culpable were the batsmen who got out at key moments after getting starts.
Manish Pandey made a fluent 48 but, like debutant Mandeep Singh, he would have loved to carry on and take his team through.
With Dhoni at the other end and India needing eight off the final over, Axar Patel got out to a loose shot to make life tougher for the visitors.
The second string squad was picked to test the team’s bench strength and the youngsters had the ideal platform to perform after a resounding series win in the preceding three ODIs. However, they wilted under pressure when challenged for the first time in the series.
While the batsmen did not show composure required at the highest level, the bowlers who were given their first chance on the tour disappointed.
