Vicious local cricket brawl triggers stunning bans, totalling 13 years for members of Thunder Nation Cup

It’s designed to promote and celebrate cultural diversity in the local community, but instead the Thunder Nation Cup semi-final descended into ugly violence – and led to some monstrous bans.

Cricket brawlers, including Arun Chauhan, have copped bans totalling 13 years.

A group of punch-happy cricketers have been banned for a whopping total of 13 years following a vicious stink in western Sydney last year.

The Thunder Nation Cup, run by Big Bash club the Sydney Thunder, is about promoting and celebrating cultural diversity in the local community, but instead the semi-final between India and Afghanistan descended into ugly violence.

Two players representing India, Arun Chauhan and Goldy Kotia and Afghani player Hilal Tawakal were all banned by Cricket NSW integrity for 42 months each, while Amanjyot Singh and Mohan Pannu both from India copped suspensions of 12 and 18 months respectively.

It’s understood the wild brawl broke out mid-match and spilled out off the field.

The match was immediately abandoned and both teams disqualified from the competition, with Sri Lanka and Nepal from the other semi-final automatically advanced to the final, with Sri Lanka running out Thunder Nation Cup winners in Blacktown last month.

The brawl took place in the Thunder Nation Cup.

All of the five suspended players have had portions of their bans deferred, but the penalties are still the heaviest Thunder general manager and former Test bowler Trent Copeland has ever seen in cricket.

“The significance of the sanctions is the message. If you look at those you’ll understand how seriously we take improper conduct. Cricket is a safe space and we just don’t stand for anything like that,” Copeland told this masthead.

“The purpose of Thunder Nation Cup is to create a fostering environment for people who don’t have English as their first spoken language or have just migrated to Australia and are finding a place or connection with other people through cricket.

“I’ve never seen suspensions to this degree. But there’s a streamlined (integrity) process and it’s quite obvious this is where it needed to land.”

Arun Chauhan copped a lengthy ban for his actions.

Arun Chauhan (R), pictured with David Warner.

One of the Indian players, Chauhan has played cricket at a decent level and has posted photos of himself training with the Sydney Thunder and posing with Thunder star David Warner.

Copeland said the format of the Thunder Nation Cup will be reviewed.

“We were going to be reviewing anyway and looking at it,” he said.

“This is a great example of, is it the right format? Is it the way to do it?”

The tournament, sponsored by HomeWorld has been going for the past 12 years and Sri Lanka player Vinushan Joseph pleaded with Thunder organisers to not kill off the competition after his side lifted the trophy.

“Playing together is the main thing. It (Thunder Nation Cup) brings all the nations together, playing good cricket,” Joseph said.

“I believe it should keep going.”

Originally published as Vicious local cricket brawl triggers stunning bans, totalling 13 years for members of Thunder Nation Cup