AN Indian cricket player currently on tour Zimbabwe with the Asian country’s national team was on Friday arrested by police for allegedly raping a local woman.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.
“There are allegations of rape against an Indian national by a Zimbabwe woman,” said Charamba.
“As police we are bound by the law when such serious matters arise and we investigate.
“We have investigated and forwarded the case to the courts for determination and we wait the outcome. He appeared in court today.”
The Meikles Hotel in central Harare at which the visiting team is booked was turned upside down by officials from the country’s intelligence and police services amid a desperate bid by the Asian nation’s representative to stop the player’s arrest.
The identity of the player could not be ascertained by the time of going to press.
“It is tricky issue because it could turn into a diplomatic feud between the two countries.
People need to tread carefully because the Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe was seen at the hotel trying to stop the player’s arrest or maybe broker an out-of-court settlement with the woman,” said a source close to the developments.
It was also claimed that the victim could have been drugged before being abused by the cricketer.
“It’s a funny story really, because it is claimed the woman was loitering in passages at the hotel and was invited for drinks.
“She claims to have awoken later with bloodied underwear which implies she did not know how she ended up in the player’s room,” said the source.
India whitewashed Zimbabwe in the one-day version of the game but lost to the hosts the first match of the shorter version of the game on Saturday by two runs.
Zimbabwe posted 170 in their allotted 20 overs after electing to bat first before India tried to tie the noose but failed at the death.