Indian fan evicted from Bay Oval during the final T20I

Debasis Sen, Hamilton: How safe is the Bay Oval cricket ground here in New Zealand as another incident of a fan entering the field of play happened during the fifth and final T20I between India and BlackCaps on Sunday. The fan later revealed as Indian origin was evicted but returned to unleash a tirade of abuse at a commentator during Sunday night’s final Twenty20 international.

According to police, the 24-year-old man was arrested for trespass around 10.20pm while another man was escorted out by security when they took exception to an Indian commentator declining a request to sign an autograph. The commentator’s identity was not revealed.

On Sunday it was not racist abuse, which was the case during the Mount Maunganui test in November when England fast bowler Jofra Archer was hurled racial abuses
Sunday’s incident was described as unsavoury, the abuse loud and foul-mouthed and within earshot of the media tent.

NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock said the man would be banned from New Zealand grounds for the rest of the home season. NZC is weighing up any further action, but the fact it was not racist abuse puts in a less serious category than the Archer incident.

Boock also said 12 fans were evicted from Bay Oval for unruly behaviour – either offensive language or disruption to other spectators. Two were arrested for regaining entry.
A crowd of 6250 watched India sweep the Black Caps 5-0 in the Twenty20 series after winning Sunday’s game five by seven runs.

But Sunday’s incident once again puts question mark about the security in place across the open grounds in New Zealand.