Cricket is known as the gentleman's game, but despite that, we have seen some shameful incidents like fights between cricketers and brawls by the crowd. Fans are indeed emotional for their favorite team, but when the performance is not up to the mark, the crowd turns violent. Here, we are presenting,"Top 10 incidents of fan brawls in Cricket".
1. India Vs. West Indies, Keenan Stadium
West Indies played exceptionally well to chase down a score from India. They were only 12 runs behind India's total when the Jamshedpur crowd started throwing bottles and light fire in the stands. The umpires and the players had to rush to the dressing room after that horrible incident.
2. England Vs. Australia, Sydney
It was the first time trouble was caused by fans during a cricket match in 1879, more than 2000 fans invaded the field and disrupted the play after an umpiring dispute between the England cricket team and the New South Wales Cricket Association in Sydney.
3. England Vs. Australia
It was another disgraceful incident by the crowd during the seventh and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at Sunset Cricket Ground. Bear bottles were thrown by spectators at English pacer John Snow.
4. Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan, Premadasa Stadium
It was the first time the game was disrupted due to fighting between two groups in the stadium. The game was halted by the umpires when the hosts were reeling at 158/7 in the 34th over. There was an argument between two factions in the stands, and the players were asked to leave the ground. Later; the issue was resolved by the police, and the play resumed at 10:05 with no reduction in overs.
5. Pakistan Vs. Australia, Perth
It was the fifth and final ODI match between Pakistan and Australia at the WACA, Perth. When a drunken Australian fan entered the field and tackled Pakistan's Khalid Latif before being detained by security.
6. India Vs. Pakistan, Sahara Cup
Pakistan was bundled out for 116 runs. Inzamam, who was fielding at the boundary line, was compared by the crowd with a potato. Inzy, asked Pakistan's 12th man, Mohammad Hussain, to bring the bat. The crowd was chanting, "O fatso, stand straight! ". An eyewitness even quoted that if not the spectators and security staff were curbing him, he would have broken the head of that guy.
7. India Vs. South Africa, 2nd T20i
India was bundled out for only 92 runs, which was their second-lowest score in T20 internationals. The match was halted when the restless spectators started throwing bottles on the field to show their anger after the disappointing performance of the home team, as they were unable to digest India's pathetic batting. It was such a shameful act by the Indian crowd.
8. India Vs. Pakistan, Champions Trophy Final, 2017
India lost the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan in 2017. When the Indian players were going back towards their dressing room, Pakistan supporters were asking Indian players, "Do you know who the father is?" They repeated the sentence multiple times to frustrate Indian players. It was such a shameful act done by Pakistan spectators.
9. India Vs. Sri Lanka
India were cruising to a series-clinching win in the third ODI in Pallekele. India was 210/4 after 44 overs, needing eight runs to win. The rowdy crowd behavior forced the umpires to stop the game for about 35 minutes. The home supporters were throwing bottles on the field. The star batter, Rohit Sharma, was batting on 122 runs and MS Dhoni on 61 when the play was halted by the umpire over crowd interference.
10. India Vs. Sri Lanka 1996 WC Semi-Final
India lost the World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka in 1996. Indian batters could not play the spinners and slumped. India; at 120/8, is in an agitated situation. The Indian crowd, sensing their team was headed for defeat, started throwing bottles on the ground, and the seats were set on fire. In the end, the match was stopped by referee Clive Lloyd. It was one incident that never happened in International Cricket before. It was heartbreaking to see such things happen by the crowd in a game that is considered to be a gentleman's game.
