Cricket Australia investigates death threat ahead of historic Pakistan tour
Cricket Australia has investigated a death threat reportedly sent to the partner of spinner Ashton Agar, who arrived in Pakistan this week.
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Cricket Australia has investigated a death threat reportedly sent to the partner of spin bowler Ashton Agar ahead of Australia’s historic tour of Pakistan.
As first revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald, a message was sent to Agar’s partner on social media warning that the cricketer should not travel to Pakistan. The message was immediately reported to CA and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
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Screenshots of the alleged death threat have circulated social media, a portion of which read: “This is an warning for your husband Ashton Agar. If he comes for tour against Pakistan he won’t come alive.
“Your children will miss there father if he comes to Pakistan.”
It is believed the message was sent from a fake Instagram account, potentially based in India.
On Monday evening, a Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed the organisation was aware of the social media post, which the PCB and government security agencies had also investigated.
“There are extensive security plans in place for this type of social media activity, which, in this case, is not considered a risk,” the statement read.
“No further comment will be made at this time.”
Due to safety concerns, the Australian men’s cricket team had not toured Pakistan since 1998, when former Test captain Mark Taylor famously scored an unbeaten 334 in Peshawar.
Pakistan has been forced to host international matches in the United Arab Emirates since the tragic 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.
Last year, New Zealand’s white-ball tour of Pakistan was abruptly abandoned hours before the first match following a security threat.
The Australian Test squad landed in Pakistan on Sunday, with training scheduled to commence at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
A real shame. Pakistan cricket fans don't deserve it. https://t.co/MuvMp32VL3
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) February 28, 2022
An Australian team spokesperson has confirmed Ashton Agar's partner was the subject of a death threat, warning the cricketer not to tour Pakistan. Team security do not believe it is a credible threat. There is a suggestion it is from a fake Instagram account from India #PAKvAUS
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 28, 2022
Islamabad-born batter Usman Khawaja said the players had not faced any issues since touching down in the Asian nation.
“It’s not too dissimilar to the other subcontinental tours we’ve toured,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Even when we went to India or Bangladesh, we weren’t really allowed outside of the hotel room much anyway, other than training and playing games.
“It’s pretty similar, I think.
“Obviously there’s a lot of security around us but they hide pretty well in plain sight.
“They’re doing a pretty good job at being around but not being seen.”
On Sunday, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins praised CA and the PCB for the security measures that ensured the tour would be a success.
“We’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals,” he told reporters.
“That was one of the big factors that we wanted to be thorough on before arriving here: not only security but biosecurity. Everyone’s done a fantastic job.
“We feel like we’re here and we can just focus on the cricket.”
Australia’s first Test match against Pakistan gets underway at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 4pm AEDT.
Australia’s tour of Pakistan
March 4-8 — First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16 — Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25 — Third Test, Lahore
March 29 — First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31 — Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2 — Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5 — Only T20I, Rawalpindi
Originally published as Cricket Australia investigates death threat ahead of historic Pakistan tour
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