Australian all-rounder Ashton Agar’s wife Madeleine passed away just days before the first match of the historic Test series between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi. According to various media reports in Australia, Agar’s wife had received death threats on social media, about which she informed both Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board along with joint government security agencies.
On receipt of the message, both the boards responded swiftly and claimed that it was not found to be ‘credible’ after scrutiny.
“Your children will miss their father if he comes to Pakistan. Our snipers will blow his head,” reads a part of the message.
“It’s a warning to your husband Ashton Agar if he comes on tour against Pakistan he won’t come” [back] alive,” it further read.
It is also being told that the social media message originated from a fake Instagram account from India. It is believed to be an attempt to disrupt the historic tour. Australia landed in the troubled country last week due to security risks for their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.
Upon receipt of the message and after a more thorough investigation, Cricket Australia issued a statement where they said they had ‘comprehensive security plans in place’.
“Cricket Australia is aware of a social media post, the nature and content of which has been investigated by PCB, CA and joint government security procedures,”
“There are comprehensive protection 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,” read a statement from CA.
According to media reports, around 4,000 police and military personnel will guard the visiting team during the six-week tour, which includes three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I.
Notably, England also canceled their tour of Pakistan after New Zealand left Pakistan on their first game day last year after receiving threats.
The teams have been away since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists on the way to a game in Lahore in 2009.
Senior members of Australia have said since their arrival in Pakistan that they feel comfortable and safe in the country. Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins said the measures CA had taken to make the tour a success were “comfortable”.
“We’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many professionals,” Cummins said.
“That was one of the big factors that we absolutely wanted to know before we got here: not just safety but biosecurity. Everyone’s done a fantastic job. We feel like we’re here and we’re just focused on cricket.” can do.”
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