PakPassion's Saj Sadiq describes ugly scenes at end of the Indian warmup game at Northhamptonshire [with Exclusive Pictures]

By Saj Sadiq (7th August, 2011)

The Indian cricket team's tour of England has been what one could term a disaster so far. Injuries, defeats in both test matches, fans unhappy with some of the player's performances and a demoralised and unhappy looking squad.

Their woes continued on Saturday as India suffered an embarrassing "first innings defeat" against an inexperienced Northamptonshire side.

As if on field matters weren't bad enough, the defeat was then followed by the announcement by Rahul Dravid in a carefully worded statement after the game against Northamptonshire, that despite his return to the one day squad after a 2 year absence, he would be retiring from both shorter versions of the game and solely concentrating on test cricket. The fact that Dravid made the announcement on the day that he was named in the one day squad, speaks volumes for what he thought of his 2 year omission from one day cricket.

The off field "goings on" though did not end there with Dravid's announcement, as large groups of Indian fans encircled the tourist's team bus as they attempted to make an exit from the County ground.

Whilst most of the "banter" directed towards the players was good natured and in support of the Indian team, as it had been throughout the day, things turned ugly shortly before the tourists team bus departed.

The first sign of trouble was when medium fast bowler Praveen Kumar was seen charging out of the team bus with a cricket bat in his hand. Kumar who was fined 20% of his match fee for dissent in the second test match against England had to be restrained by team mate Suresh Raina as he lunged towards a group of supporters. Kumar could be seen pointing at a group of fans and had to be restrained by stewards. Kumar's team mate Suresh Raina used his initiative in grabbing Kumar and then leading him back onto the team bus, as threatening words were exchanged by Kumar and the young fans.

The ugly scenes did not stop there though, as another Indian player left the team bus, this time though to attempt to diffuse the situation. Medium fast bowler Munaf Patel left his seat on the bus to complain to stewards that fans were being disrespectful to him and some team mates. Munaf was seen speaking to the stewards and pointing towards fans and asking stewards to intervene in the issue.

As stunned fans looked on at the bizarre events, not long after Patel regained his seat on the team bus, Kumar once again leapt out of the team bus and made a charge for the same group of fans who he had attempted to lunge towards a few minutes earlier.

Stewards once again had to restrain Kumar as he hurled abuse and pointed at one particular fan. The fan responded by shouting back at Kumar "I am under 18, I haven't done anything wrong."

As stewards struggled to keep the fan and Kumar apart, once again Suresh Raina played the part of peacemaker to intervene in what was proving to be a highly embarrassing incident for the Indian team. Kumar came face to face with the fan and just as things were about to turn even more uglier, the Indian security manager also intervened.

Kumar was once again dragged onto the team bus by Raina, again shouting expletives in full view and hearing distance of fans of all ages.

It was then the turn of the Indian security manager to come face to face with the young fan as another verbal exchange ensued. Once again the stewards had to intervene just as the incident was about to escalate. The young fan was dragged away by stewards and escorted out of the ground. One steward could be heard saying "ok that's enough".

A friend of the young fan explained to PakPassion.net that they were taking pictures of the players on the team bus and Kumar allegedly made an obscene gesture at them. This then according to the friend of the ejected fan led to a verbal spat and Kumar running out of the team bus on two occasions.

Other eyewitnesses who were close to the series of incidents stated that the ejected fan may have been drunk and abusive to Kumar and was allegedly hurling abuse at him[Kumar].

However another group of Indian fans stated that Kumar's behaviour was nothing short of disgraceful and even if there had been any provocation, Kumar should have left it to the stewards to deal with instead of running out of the team bus twice.

 

Exclusive pictures below

Indian fans outside the ground


Raina attempts to lead Praveen away


Angry fans react to the incident


Munaf attempts to calm things down