Three kit bags of South African cricketers have been stolen during practice in Pakistan. Now, there are serious doubts raised regarding the security measures for these foreign players. Temba Bavuma, South African skipper captain, lodged a formal complaint to the ICC regarding the security negligence and urged the body to address this issue. He felt disappointed and demanded strict supervision about the safety of players and their valuables on international tours.
3 kitbags of South African players were stolen during Practice in Pakistan. T. Bavuma complained about this issue to ICC. [PKTV 24] pic.twitter.com/mvgzLdF0KK
— mufaddla parody (@mufaddl_parody) February 19, 2025
The matter has again sparked the debate about security for foreign visiting teams in Pakistan and what measures this country is taking now to restore its status as a secure location for international cricket. Pakistan has gone out of its way to seal international borders for the last couple of years for inviting foreign teams back after a long time away from international cricket for security reasons.
The PCB, however, has not made any official statements on the matter, but it has come to notice that, according to sources, an internal, local inquiry is being held by the Board on the matter. The local authorities are also investigating regarding the theft, with hopes of retrieving the kitbags and avoiding such a scenario in the future.
South African Tean Reaction
This will leave the South African players fuming, as the kitbags have much valuable equipment and personal items. Such disruptions are very unsettling for the team at a moment when a lot is at stake in their ongoing series. Temba Bavuma, generally a cool and composed character, did not shrink back from showing his discontent.
From cricket enthusiasts to many others, everyone were tweeting to express their concern for this unfortunate incident with many arguing how could this all happen under international tour security protocols.
Action by ICC
With Bavuma even formally taking the matter up with the ICC, the world body could now endorse heightened security at venues for international teams. Foreign boards may require reconsideration now within their traveling security protocols as they relate to teams touring through Pakistan and other locations which have faced security issues in the past.
As the investigations proceed, the world cricket fraternity waits to know the ICC-PCB development on this shocking incident.
