North Metro Cricket Association has launched an investigation after a brawl erupted in the semi-final match between Darebin Chargers and Preston Druids in Lalor on Saturday.
The umpires called off the game after the fight that involved up to 30 people from both teams took place in the middle of the ground.
Darebin Chargers have more than a dozen registered players of Indian descent.
Vikas Dhingra who is the captain and the president of Darebin Chargers Cricket Club alleged that he and his teammates were repeatedly abused and targeted with the racial taunts from the opposite team.
“This is definitely the worst day of my cricket career. The incessant racial taunts and slurs without being provoked, along with completely out of control physical assault must be addressed by the management," said Mr Dhingra.
“We’re yet to see the umpire report. He witnessed this behaviour and we hope to get a fair treatment from the management.
It is alleged the comments were made during Preston Druids’ batting innings, with requests to stop this behaviour from the umpire allegedly going unheeded.
Violence erupted during the semi-final match between Darebin Chargers and Preston Druids in Lalor on Saturday (Photo - Pixabay) Source: Pixabay
Vikas Dhingra told SBS Punjabi that their team has also been suspended while an investigation is still underway.
“We’re eagerly waiting for the tribunal decision, which may take place sometime next week,” he said.
“Even during our previous game with this team, we reported this behaviour of abuse and racial taunts but the management didn’t do enough to stop it.
“On Saturday, this repeat offender got into an argument at the non-strikers end and then yelled 'Go back to your own F****g country and bowl there'. He didn't stop here and kept on abusing me and talked rubbish about my wife.
“This resulted in an altercation and he charged me with his bat that hit me near my right eye.
Victoria Police spokesman Luke Zammit told that police attended the ground after reports of a brawl just after 6.30pm on Saturday.
Mr Zammit said two men were assessed at the scene for minor injuries and a 40-year-old Craigieburn man was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries prior to police arrival.
SBS Punjabi has contacted Preston Druids who have declined to comment over the matter until the investigation is complete.
"We have submitted the statement of events into the NMCA and are awaiting a hearing date to be set about the matter," a spokesperson from Preston Druids told SBS Punjabi.
SBS Punjabi has contacted NMCA for their comments.
