Pitch invasion in a car brings Ranji game to a halt
NEWDELHI: A man drove his car onto the cricket pitch while a Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh was in progress at the Indian Air Force ground in Palam on Friday. The incident that occurred at a stone’s throw from the domestic airport was viewed as a major security breach.
Cricketers, including India players Ishant Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina, looked on in disbelief as the 32-year-old man in a Wagon R, later described by police as depressed due to marital discord, brought the game to a brief halt during the evening session.
The man, Girish Sharma, was stopped by security officials as he tried to drive out and handed to police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest), Shibesh Singh, said he was in custody and being questioned.
Sources told HT Sharma got hysterical at the station and police then summoned his parents. His family told them he was depressed and disturbed after his wife left him a few months ago.
Police said they had not received any complaint. “We’ve verified his antecedents. He left his Puth Kalan house in outer Delhi in the afternoon and was driving the whole day. No FIR has been registered.”
Delhi were playing their home match away from the Feroz Shah Kotla as it was being prepared to stage the Twenty20 tie between India and New Zealand on November 1.Players were exposed to the possibility of suffering serious injuries in the incident which happened on the penultimate day of the four-day match.
Entry to the sprawling ground is usually guarded by Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. A senior IAF official said that around 4.30pm, a security guard of the IAF was checking a BCCI vehicle when he saw the Wagon R enter. “The entry gate is adjacent to the air force station and can be accessed from the main road. When the driver entered the ground, our staff closed the gate to prevent him from escaping. He was caught and handed over to police,” the official said.
Following the incident, the match referee examined and ruled the pitch and outfield had not suffered any damage and play resumed.