via Tim BlairWild fighting erupted between police and local journalists on the field during the lunch break in the second cricket Test between Australia and Bangladesh. Tensions became heightened between the two camps after a leading Bangladesh sports photographer was bashed by a policeman while trying to enter Chittagong Divisional Stadium by the wrong gate. The anger developed into open brawling at the side of the field at the luncheon interval with journalists being kicked and hit with the butts of police rifles.
The ugly scenes threaten any possibility of international cricket returning to the port city in the nation's south after Australia's tour and the International Cricket Council could look into the matter. The majority of the local press went on strike for the day after the dramatic events and threatened to boycott the rest of the Australian tour. Several reporters were left bloodied and battered from the altercations.
The situation degenerated when the angry journalists went to stage a second protest on the ground during lunch after calling for the responsible officer to be stood down from his duties. Dozens of fuming scribes went out to voice their anger on the pitch but were met by police and wild brawls broke out like spot fires at the side of the ground. The police showed little restraint by singling out and surrounding journalists and belting them in savage fashion. The media mob then streamed onto the ground before going into the Bangladesh team's change room to voice their protests. The drama delayed the start of play for the second time after journalists initially protested before the match began by sitting next to the pitch.