Fist fights marr domestic leagues

Mark Vermeulen's outburst while playing club cricket in England seems to have sent out the wrong message considering the number of local players who have lost their tempers during matches of late.

On Sunday, Bradley Ras, captaining Metropolitan XI in a Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association First League match against Emakhandeni, was unhappy with the umpire's decision after he appeared to glove a bouncer. Ras, who was out for a two-ball duck, turned and punched umpire Sydney Dingizitha before walking back to the pavilion. Metropolitan XI went on to lose the match to leaders Emakhandeni by eight wickets.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association officials are said to have already taken stern action against Ras and he will not play cricket in the province again.

Ras is a former Crescent Sports Club player who came close to playing for Matabeleland a couple of years ago. Crescent are not playing in the local league after their field was razed by fire and most of their players are turning out for Metropolitan XI, which is a select side.

Players who witnessed the incident who included Ras' team-mates, condemned the player's action and urged the umpire to write a report.

Ras is not the only player to lose his cool this season. Bulawayo Athletic Club second-team wicketkeeper Dumisani Mankunzini had an altercation with an opposition batsman which ended in a fight during a second league match at the end of last month. That incident was not reported.