Cricket Australia To Be Punished Over Pitch Invader

Pitch invader David James Fraser tackles Pakistan opener Khalid Latif to the ground.

The International Cricket Council has asked Cricket Australia for a report into the breach of security that allowed a spectator to enter the field of play during Australia’s fifth one-day international against Pakistan at the Waca in Perth yesterday and tackle the Pakistan opener Khalid Latif to the ground.

The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia’s innings. Latif was brought down from behind by 37-year-old David James Fraser but was uninjured. The spectator has been charged with assault and given a life ban from the ground. He was also fined A$500 (R3 380).

“Obviously the ICC is very disappointed by the incident,” an ICC spokesperson told Cricinfo. “There has been a clear security breach. We have asked CA to send us a detailed report on the incident before we can make any comment.” Given the ICC’s zero tolerance for such breaches, the matter is being viewed with concern and it could be brought up at the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai from 9-11 February.

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said: “I just hope I never see that again to tell you the truth. I had seen that once a long time ago and that ended up being a horrible incident and seeing it again is a worry.

“Obviously we don’t condone that sort of behaviour and it’s unfortunately a small minority of the crowd that turns up to do something stupid like that which puts everyone in the same boat. There was a lot of security around there and even more after it happened, but we’d like to think that it doesn’t happen in Australia again.

Asked what should happen in future, Ponting said: “Making a very good example of this guy is a good way to start. If you make a good example of him and make it clear to everybody that turns up at the cricket that sort of behaviour is unacceptable. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to see those people at the ground if they are going to behave like that.”

Thanks to the Guardian.co.uk