A security scare involving a Sri Lankan man propositioning Australia’s cricketers for sex at the team’s Colombo hotel has left the game’s governing body the ICC with another spot-fire to put out.
The ICC released a statement saying the equivalent of “nothing to see here, move along”.
Friday night’s on-field action was spectacular at the World Twenty20, with Australia beating India thanks to some batting fireworks from openers Shane Watson and David Warner.
But off the field the ICC has had to deal with some difficult questions.
How did a fan manage to get access to the Australia cricket team’s floor at their hotel?
The ICC has also in this tournament had to defend accusations of poor scheduling, with rain affecting several matches because of the monsoon season.
There was also the gastro incident, in which the ICC changed their supplier of water bottles to match venues after at least one team complained that players were getting sick and this was possibly linked with the drinking water.
However the ICC admitted no fault regarding the water quality.
The latest drama appears a light-hearted incident with no harm done, but the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer at the team’s hotel room in Jamaica during the 2007 World Cup means security was always going to be a massive issue at world cricket tournaments which followed.
How did the Australian players react? Cricket Australia declined to comment and referred media queries to the ICC.
It’s understood the players involved weren’t overly upset but the incident has highlighted the need for stricter security.
Players’ sleeping quarters are supposed to be off-limits to the public during the tournament.
“The man had gone into a player’s room offering his services as a male escort,” a police officer involved in the case told AFP.
“The player refused and he barged into another room when the Australians alerted hotel security.”
Abdul Karim, 21, was fined $7 and given a one-month suspended jail term after he pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of breaking and entering.
An ICC spokesman said it was a minor and isolated incident involving an over-enthusiastic cricket fan and it was immediately reported by Australia’s team management to the ICC.
“The trespasser has been dealt with by the law and the security for the tournament has been briefed and tightened,” the spokesman said on Friday night.
