Retiring Australian star David Warner has launched an impassioned plea on Instagram after his backpack, containing his prized baggy green, was stolen.
Warner, who is preparing for the final Test of his glittering career, pleaded for the item to be returned.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Warner pleads for stolen backpack to be returned.
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In a video message, the 37-year-old explained the backpack was taken out of his actual luggage while it was being freighted from Melbourne to Sydney.
“Someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage, which had my girls’ presents in there and inside the backpack was my baggy green. That’s sentimental to me and something that I’d love to have back,” he said in the video.
Warner added that they have gone through CCTV footage and there are apparently blind spots.
“Hi all, this is my last resort, but my backpack, which contained my Baggy Green, has been taken from my luggage, which was transported to Melbourne airport and flown on Qantas to Sydney a few days ago,” he wrote on Instagram
“Qantas have said they checked their cameras and have not seen anyone open our bags and take the backpack, however they do have blind spots.
“If you are the person, who was either working for the company driving it to and from the airport or working for Qantas and have, by chance, just wanted the backpack, I have one for you. I would be grateful if this were returned asap. Thanks.”
In a statement provided to 7NEWS, Qantas said they are doing everything they can.
“Our freight teams are continuing to search the terminals in Melbourne and Sydney and reviewing CCTV to try and locate the missing bag. We appreciate the importance of this bag and we’re doing everything we can to help find it,” they said.
Warner on Monday retired from one-day international cricket in the lead-up to his final Test match but could make a comeback at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The veteran opener said the time was right to conclude his ODI career following Australia’s recent World Cup triumph in India, where he was the side’s leading run-scorer.
Warner had been contemplating retiring from ODIs since before the tournament and he went public with his decision at a press conference on Monday ahead of his Test swansong at the SCG this week.
He will continue to play Twenty20 cricket for Australia, having previously suggested he could announce his international retirement from that format following this year’s World Cup in North America.
“It was a (ODI) decision that I was very, very comfortable with,” the 37-year-old said.
“To win in India, from where we were, was absolutely amazing.
“When we lost two games in a row in India, the bond just got stronger with each other and it’s not by fluke or by chance that we were able to get to where we were.
“So I’ll make that decision today, to retire from those forms (ODIs).”
– With AAP