Johannesburg, South Africa – 2024/03/08 08:12 โฃSAST – โฃMembers of the Bangladesh cricket team were victimsโ of an armed robbery while traveling to the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg earlierโข today, accordingโฃ toโ reports fromโข local โขauthorities and the bangladeshโฃ cricket Board (BCB). โThe incident occurred โaround 07:30 SAST as the team bus was en route to the stadium for practice โahead of the second Test match โขagainst South Africa.
The robbery involved โan unknown number of assailants who reportedly usedโ firearms to stop the bus and demand โvaluablesโ from the cricketers and team officials. While initial reports indicated only personal โbelongings were taken, the โคBCB confirmed that mobile phones, laptops, โand cash were stolen. No injuriesโข were reported among the teamโ members, but theโฃ incident has understandably shaken the squad.
This brazen attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced in certain areas of Southโ Africa,โฃ even impacting high-profile sporting events.The incident raises concerns about โthe safety of international teams touring โคthe country andโฃ will likely prompt a review of security โprotocols for the remainder of the series. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has โlaunched a full examination, with a dedicated โขtask force assignedโ to apprehend the โขperpetrators and recover the stolen โitems.
“Weโค are relieved that none of our players or support staff were physically harmed,” stated BCB โspokesperson Jalal Yunus in aโ press conference โคfollowing the incident. “We are in close contact with Cricket South africa andโฃ the South African โคpolice toโ ensure the safety and security of our team for the duration of the tour.”
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has condemned the attack and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. โ”CSA takes the safety and security of all teams touring South Africa extremely seriously,” saidโ CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki. “We are working closely with the SAPS to ensure thatโ the perpetrators are brought to justice and that such incidents do not happen again.”
The โsecond Test โmatch is scheduledโ to begin on 2024/03/08 at the Wanderers Stadium. While there were discussions about potentially postponing the match, both teams have agreed to proceed as planned, withโข heightenedโฃ security measures in place. The SAPS has assured the teams โthat additional security personnel will be โขdeployed to the stadium andโข surrounding areasโ to prevent โany further โincidents.
