Cricket security has been increased after Wasim Akram was involved in a heated confrontation with an abusive fan during the Australia-India Test in Perth
- Wasim Akram scolded by fan
- Later involved in a heated confrontation
- Security in Perth has been tightened
Security is being increased at Perth’s Optus Stadium after commentator Wasim Akram was harassed by a cricket fan for almost an hour on Saturday.
The Pakistani legend was reportedly trying to cross himself for Indian broadcaster Star when he faced persistent abuse.
Akram had signed an autograph for the young man earlier in the day, but the fan continued to abuse the beloved cricket star.
The man was outside the ground after the match when Akram left to get a taxi and an argument broke out between the two.
The man was taken away by security. It is not known whether he was drunk.
Cricket officials have indicated the abuse was not racist but have confirmed security will be tightened for the remaining days of the Test.
Cricket legend Wasim Akram was harassed by a cricket fan for almost an hour on Saturday
Akram (pictured earlier this year with Ravi Shastri) faced persistent verbal abuse
Cricket Australia does not want a repeat of the incident and has confirmed they will now have greater security around commentators making live crosses on the pitch.
In addition, commentators have also been given the choice of being picked up by cars within the venue.
Meanwhile, new master blaster Yashasvi Jaiswal steered India to a famous victory in Perth after scoring a brilliant hundred in his first Test in Australia.
After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, the 22-year-old star has caused Australia some serious pain as India moved to 1-275 at lunch on day three of the first Border-Gavaskar Test at the Optus Stadium.
India lead by 321 runs and will look to keep Australia playing in the Perth sunshine all day, with temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees.
Jaiswal (141*) and KL Rahul (77), who was recalled to the Indian team only as captain Rohit Sharma was on maternity leave, posted a 201-run stand – the highest opening partnership by an Indian pair in Australia.
The duo eclipsed the previous mark of 191 set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth at the SCG in 1986.
Jaiswal, who grew up in the slums of India, reached his fourth Test century early on Sunday when he ran Josh Hazlewood over his fine leg for six.
Yashasvi Jaiswal steers India to a famous win in Perth
Australia are on their way to their first Test defeat at Optus Stadium since it opened in 2018
The southpaw raised his hands in the air in triumph before hugging Rahul.
Despite two Test centuries in India and another away to the struggling West Indies, doubts remained over how Jaiswal would perform in Australian conditions.
But he excelled on a pace-friendly Perth pitch that has admittedly become easier to bat on after 17 wickets fell on a chaotic opening day.
Jaiswal had lunch alongside Devdutt Padikkal (25*), who also made a duck in the first innings and is playing only his second Test.
With Australia heading to their first Test defeat at Optus Stadium since it opened in 2018, and only their second overall in Perth against India, Pat Cummins’ team will have to brave history.
The last time Australia recovered from a 1-0 deficit and came back to win a Test series was in the 1997 Ashes in England.
Australia last won a Border-Gavaskar series in 2014-15, while India had held the trophy since 2017.
This was a stunning turnaround for India, who arrived in Australia after a historic 3-0 home draw against New Zealand.
Mitchell Starc (1-79) has taken Australia’s only wicket of the innings and looks frustrated even after dismissing Rahul as the Indian right-hander fell behind.
Even taking the second new ball just before lunch didn’t help Australia make serious progress.
Catapulted to a dismal 104 in their first innings, the Aussies were again set to play India’s 150 after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah (5-30) bowled superbly to enhance his already stellar reputation in Australia.
