Australian cricketer Ashleigh Gardner’s wife, Monica Wright, has captured public attention with a post on Instagram, sharing a photo that reflects the heightened security surrounding the Australian women’s team after a recent distressing incident in Indore.
Monica Wright, Gardner’s wife, posted an Instagram story that saw the couple inside their car, trailed by two vigilant police officers on a bike. Wright simply captioned it, “Police escort to the cafe,” tagging Gardner and giving the world an unfiltered look at the new reality faced by the players and their families.
The tight security detail was put in place in the wake of an alarming incident on October 23 in Indore, where two members of the Australian women’s cricket team were harassed by a motorcycle-borne assailant while heading out from their hotel to a nearby café. The players immediately sent their location to their team’s security officer, prompting swift action from organizers and law enforcement.
The incident took place on Khajrana Road around 11 AM, when the assailant approached the players. Reacting quickly, tournament organizers and local authorities escalated security protocols not just in Indore, but at all venues, hotels, and training sites hosting international squads.
Police responded with urgency: a bystander had noted the suspect’s bike number, which, with the help of CCTV footage, led to the identification and arrest of Aqeel Khan—who, as officials revealed, has prior criminal history. The coordinated manhunt involved five different police stations and culminated in Khan’s arrest just six hours after the case was registered.
Following the event, extra security measures have surrounded all competing teams. This is particularly crucial as the Women’s World Cup approaches its closing stages, with Navi Mumbai hosting the much-anticipated semi-final between India and Australia, and soon the final. Monica Wright’s post, while personal and understated, carries the weight of an ongoing conversation across cricket: the safety and well-being of women athletes—on and off the field—remains paramount.
Wright’s Instagram moment, therefore, isn’t just a snapshot of daily life but a quiet testament to both the resilience of the players and the seriousness with which authorities have treated their protection. For fans, it’s a somber but necessary reminder of the realities faced by global sportswomen—and the collective effort to ensure cricket remains a stage for their talent, not their vulnerability.
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