Police in Pakistan's Punjab province have arrested a suspect for issuing a threat to carry out a terror attack on the Australian cricket team during its Lahore tour early this month. The Australian cricket team concluded its tour of Pakistan early this month in which it played three tests and as many ODIs, and one T20.

Following a threat call to the Australian interior ministry that the team would be attacked in Lahore, the Pakistani intelligence agencies launched an investigation into it. "On Thursday, police traced the man who made the terror attack threat to the Australian interior ministry, and arrested him," police officer concerned Mubashir Maken told reporters. He said the suspect, Irfan Naseer, was arrested from Toba Tek Singh, some 200 kilometres from Lahore.

"A case has been registered against him under Anti-Terrorism Act and Telegraph Act, he said, adding that the police and intelligence agency traced the suspect through his mobile phone data. The officer said the police are also probing his link with any banned outfit.

Australian spinner Ashton Agar, who was part of the test squad during Pakistan's tour, was also the subject of a death threat on social media. Later, it was found that the threat was issued from a fake Instagram account.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon led an inspired bowling performance by Australia with a five-wicket haul to help the tourists beat Pakistan by 115 runs in the final the deciding third Test in Lahore and clinch the three-match series 1-0 on Friday. The 34-year-old took the prized wickets of Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam to end Pakistan’s resistance and finished with figures of 5/83 to register his 19th five-wicket haul in an innings.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins provided ample support by picking up three wickets as Pakistan folded for 235 on the final day of the Test match at the Gaddafi Stadium, chasing a target of 351.

“In the first innings, the way we batted and put us ahead of the game was fantastic,” Cummins, who was adjudged player of the match for his match haul of eight wickets, said at the presentation.

PTI