PCB, CA, and security agencies investigate and dismiss threat against Ashton Agar
Despite death threats sent to Australian cricketer Ashton Agar’s family, the visiting Australian cricket team is in “good spirits” and will continue net practice as normal ahead of the first Test match, scheduled to start on Friday, March 4.
The threatening message
the family of the Australian cricketer was sent threatening messages via a fake Instagram account —jyot.isharma391. The messenger warned him against playing in Pakistan.
The threat message, warning Agar against traveling to Pakistan, was sent to his wife via a fake Instagram account —jyot.isharma391.
A portion of the message reads: “This is a warning for your husband Ashton Agar if he comes to tour against Pakistan he won’t come [back] alive.” The message also references Agar’s children, which he does not have.
The threat was immediately reported to the cricket boards of Australia and Pakistan and was investigated throughout Monday.
PCB, Cricket Australia dismiss threat
Dismissing the threat, Cricket Australia said in a statement it was “not a risk” and that it would not affect Kangaroos’ ongoing Pakistan tour or the team’s movements.
“Cricket Australia is aware of a social media post, of which the nature and content has been investigated by the PCB, CA, and combined government security agencies. There are extensive security plans in place for this type of social media activity, which, in this case, is not considered a risk. No further comment will be made at this time.”
Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia as well as government agencies are investigating the message and have already dismissed the threat warning.
Agar in ‘good spirits’
Agar was said to be in good spirits despite the direct message sent to his partner. He is comfortable with the procedures that have been followed. Security agencies, PCB and CA have procedures in place to investigate threats targeting players and their families.
India again behind the threatening message
Pakistan’s interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has launched a blistering attack on India for allegedly being behind the threatening message. While addressing a press conference at the stadium on Tuesday the interior minister extended a warm welcome to the Australian players and support staff and also hit out at India.
“We are giving you head of state security, which we give to every visiting head of state,” he said. “There are some people, especially the Indians, which are not happy with the happiness of the Pakistani people who are cricket lovers. They did the same during the New Zealand tour but this time they have failed.”
Australia’s first Test in decades
The Aussies arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for a full tour comprising three Tests, three One Day Internationals, and one T20 International. This is Australia’s first trip to Pakistan since 1998. Friday’s Test match will be the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Pakistan in more than two decades. The two sides last played a Test match in Pakistan in 1998. Pakistan has hosted only six Test matches since March 2009, when Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by gunmen while on its way to Gaddafi Stadium for a Test match.