Indian cricket team provided adequate security: Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket team which is currently touring Australia has been provided "adequate" security, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said today, seeking to allay any apprehensions about the safety of the players following the Sydney hostage crisis.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Sonowal said that the Sports Ministry had approached the External Affairs Ministry in this regard and had been assured that proper security cover had been provided to the team.

"We had spoken to the External affairs Ministry in this regard and we were informed that the adequate security cover, that is needed, has been provided to the India cricket team," Sonowal told reporters outside Parliament.

Security, the minister added, is a very serious subject and it cannot be compromised.

Yesterday, a heavily-armed man of Iranian origin had held 17 people hostage at a cafe in Sydney and the crisis ended late last night with the police storming it.

Three persons were killed. Two Indians, who were among the captives, escaped safely.