India, New Zealand
Tim Seifert plays a shot as KL Rahul looks on (Credits: Twitter)

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has banned a spectator after he reportedly misbehaved with an Indian commentator. The spectator was first evicted from Bay Oval where India were playing against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I. The spectator then  returned to unleash a tirade of abuse at the Indian commentator.

According to Stuff, a 24-year-old man was arrested for trespass around 10.20pm local time after he and another man were escorted out by security when they took exception to an Indian commentator declining a request to sign an autograph. The commentator’s identity was not revealed.

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One of the men somehow made his way back into Bay Oval and continued the tirade which led to police intervening. This is the second time in recent times, NZC banned a fan for verbal abuse. Last month an Auckland man was banned by the cricket board from attending matches for two years for directing a racist insult at England fast bowler Jofra Archer during the Bay Oval Test in November.

The report further claimed that Sunday’s incident was described as unsavoury, the abuse loud and foul-mouthed and within earshot of the media tent. NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock said the man would be banned from New Zealand grounds for the rest of the home season. NZC is weighing up any further action. However, the fan is unlikely to get a harsher punishment since he did not make any racist comment.

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“At the moment, as far as his future entry to arenas for the rest of the home international summer, any booking he has made has been blocked while we’re assessing what went on and deciding what should happen,” Boock said.

Meanwhile, India beat New Zealand by seven runs in the fifth game on Sunday to clean sweep the five-match T20I series. Both the teams will now take on each other in a three-match ODI series, starting on Wednesday (February 5).