Security cover beefed up for Indian cricket team at Brisbane after Sydney hostage crisis

India trail the four-match series against Australia 0-1

The security cover for the touring Indian team has been strengthened at Brisbane after a gunman, on Monday, took as many as 30 people hostage at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney.

It is not, yet, clear as to who is behind the incident. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, addressing a press conference earlier today, said: “We don’t yet know the motivation of perpetrator, we don’t know whether it’s politically motivated although there are indications it could be.

“The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people... Australia is a peaceful, open and generous society and nothing should ever change that and that’s why I urge all Australians to today to go about their business as usual.”

BCCI monitoring the situation

India are scheduled to play the fourth and final Test match of the ongoing series against the host team at Sydney, which starts from January 6. The team has arrived at Brisbane, where the second Test is to played, following the Adelaide loss.

BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel has said that the board has been in contact with Cricket Australia (CA), and they are satisfied with the security arrangements.

Patel told PTI, "We are constantly in touch with Cricket Australia top bosses. We are monitoring the situation closely and security of our players is paramount. The players are in Brisbane and everything is normal there."

"However, the security of the Indian team has been beefed up considerably. We have been informed by Cricket Australia that additional police forces have been deployed with the Indian team. We are happy with what CA has arranged."

Television footages show “people inside the cafe with their hands pressed against the window holding the black flag known as Shahadah, a prayer spoken in mosques daily, and not a flag specific to the Islamic State”, according to a PTI release.

When asked if India could cancel the tour in the wake of the crisis, Patel said: "We haven't reached that stage as next Test is in Brisbane. It's too early to comment on the fate of the Sydney Test. We are confident CA will take appropriate measures to ensure safety and security. At this point I can't say anything about Sydney Test. For us the tour is still on,"