Cricketer left with concussion after being punched during Auckland community match

Arshad Basheer, a 41-year-old cricket player, went into concussion after he was punched during a community cricket match in Auckland on Saturday, March 20. During the game at the Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga, the cricketer was left with a bruised nose after copping the blow on the face.

The incident took place when Basheer was bowling for the Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club. There was a disagreement over whether the balls that were being called wide were actually wide. Thereafter, Basheer said “please don’t cheat” to a player from the Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club.

Basheer mentioned that the player came up to him and asked him to repeat what he said after which “he smashed into my face”. After getting hit, Basheer collapsed on the ground and lost consciousness for a few minutes.

Controversy in Auckland cricket

“He held my neck in both hands, I tried to escape and the next minute he punched me,” Basheer was quoted as saying in stuff.co.nz. After spending the Saturday evening at A&E, he narrated the entire incident to the police.

The mishap meant that he had to sacrifice an evening part-time work’s of taxi-driving from where he earns between $200 and $300, he said.

As per a spokesperson, investigations are underway, but no arrests have been made until now. In the meantime, Basheer wants the player “banned” and called his behaviour “unacceptable”.

Dean Bartlett, the community cricket manager for Auckland Cricket, said that the board has communicated with both the clubs on the matter. He also said that Auckland Cricket will assist the police with the investigations.

“It is our understanding that one player has been internally stood down by their club indefinitely, therefore will take no part in the rest of the season. Once the matter is closed by the police, we will action our judicial process, which will involve a Full Hearing conducted by the Auckland Cricket Judicial Panel,” he stated.

In the meantime, Francis Scordino, the Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club manager, also opined on the issue. He said that the club has a formal investigation process. “I’m sure there will be two sides to what happened,” he mentioned.