New Delhi: India's cricket tour of Zimbabwe was on Sunday hit by a massive controversy after an official associated with one of the sponsors of the series was arrested for alleged rape even though he pleaded innocence to the charge.

The storm erupted after the Zimbabwean media reported that an unnamed Indian cricketer had been arrested on charges of rape. The reports stated that India's ambassador to the African nation, R Masakui, had tried to prevent the player's arrest last night at a Harare hotel.