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A charity cricket match was abandoned after a fight that saw players striking each other with bats broke out between two teams.
The violence erupted at the end of a game at Mote Park Cricket Club in Maidstone yesterday at a tournament raising money for Share for Care, which helps those in need of medical treatment in Pakistan.
Shocking footage of the incident shows a group of players engaged in an animated discussion close to the edge of the pitch, before a topless thug sprints towards them swinging willow.
Two more hooligans – one still wearing his pads – are then seen exchanging blows, as the screams of onlookers ring out across the ground.
Another person is struck to the floor, as more bat-wielding louts start clubbing their rivals.
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.
"I don't know what the main reason was behind it, but there were some troublemakers in the ground. They started fighting with their bats and hitting people.
"I was far away from it, but by the time I got near, they were still fighting and swearing at each other."
Mr Akram says police arrived at the ground after the fight broke out at about 7pm.
Paramedics were also called to tend to those who sustained injuries.
"We are not happy – we don't tolerate this behaviour," Mr Akram added.
"No one's life was lost but a couple of guys got injured in the fight.
"I told them then that what they'd done was a disgrace. There should be stiff action against the players involved.
"We won't let these people come into the ground in the future – we know their faces and we can't take that risk ever again."
On social media on Monday, The Mote Cricket Club said: "The Mote CC would like to distance ourselves from any events that took place at our club yesterday.
"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."
Organisers had predicted that the tournament would draw between 350 and 400 people.
The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, was set to appear at the venue alongside Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan Dr Faisal Aziz Ahmed and former Kent cricketer Yasir Arafat.
Police have been contacted for comment.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/bat-wielding-thugs-storm-charity-cricket-match-250941/
A charity cricket match was abandoned after a fight that saw players striking each other with bats broke out between two teams.
The violence erupted at the end of a game at Mote Park Cricket Club in Maidstone yesterday at a tournament raising money for Share for Care, which helps those in need of medical treatment in Pakistan.
Shocking footage of the incident shows a group of players engaged in an animated discussion close to the edge of the pitch, before a topless thug sprints towards them swinging willow.
Two more hooligans – one still wearing his pads – are then seen exchanging blows, as the screams of onlookers ring out across the ground.
Another person is struck to the floor, as more bat-wielding louts start clubbing their rivals.
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.
"I don't know what the main reason was behind it, but there were some troublemakers in the ground. They started fighting with their bats and hitting people.
"I was far away from it, but by the time I got near, they were still fighting and swearing at each other."
Mr Akram says police arrived at the ground after the fight broke out at about 7pm.
Paramedics were also called to tend to those who sustained injuries.
"We are not happy – we don't tolerate this behaviour," Mr Akram added.
"No one's life was lost but a couple of guys got injured in the fight.
"I told them then that what they'd done was a disgrace. There should be stiff action against the players involved.
"We won't let these people come into the ground in the future – we know their faces and we can't take that risk ever again."
On social media on Monday, The Mote Cricket Club said: "The Mote CC would like to distance ourselves from any events that took place at our club yesterday.
"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."
Organisers had predicted that the tournament would draw between 350 and 400 people.
The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, was set to appear at the venue alongside Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan Dr Faisal Aziz Ahmed and former Kent cricketer Yasir Arafat.
Police have been contacted for comment.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/bat-wielding-thugs-storm-charity-cricket-match-250941/
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