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A mass brawl broke out at a charity cricket tournament in Maidstone, Kent, following the end of a match between two teams.
The tournament had been held in order to raise funds for Share for Care, a charity raising money for those in need of medical care in Pakistan and the Heart of Kent Hospice.
However, the event turned into farce as players from opposing sides began to attack each other, some of whom were wielding bats. Many players were still wearing whites, whilst one man can be seen still wearing his pads as the brawl ensues in a video of the fracas which was shared viral on social media. An umpire is also visible in the middle of the altercation trying to restore order.
Disgraceful scenes during a charity match which had to be abandoned after a fight between the two teams. The violence erupted at the end of a game at Mote Park Cricket Club in Maidstone during a tournament raising money for those in need of medical treatment in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/uGOYPuc3z2
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 20, 2021
Shehzad Akram, who helped with the running of the event, told KentOnline: “We tried our best for charity and these lunatics just spoiled it. At the end of the day, we were having the final match and it was the last couple of overs when some guys came on the pitch and attacked a few of the players.”
Police and paramedics were called to the scene where four people were treated for injuries with one taken to hospital.
The event was hosted at The Mote Cricket Club. However the club have distanced themselves from events as the altercation occurred between sides who had rented the ground for the day, with the club itself not involved.
In a statement released on social media on Monday, The Mote CC said: “The Mote CC would like to distance ourselves from any events that took place at our club yesterday.
We do not condone these events and are saddened and disappointed in the organisers and those involved with the incident.
— The Mote CC (@motecricket) July 19, 2021
“We do not oversee and are not responsible for behaviour of any of those who commercially rent our ground.
“We do not condone these events, and are saddened and disappointed in the organisers and those involved with the incident.”