A cricketer accused of clubbing two members of an

A cricketer accused of clubbing two members of an opposing team with his bat has claimed there is a conspiracy against him.

Khalique Ahmed, 28, allegedly ran on to the pitch and hit the wicket keeper and a fielder when tempers frayed in a local derby between Osterley and Southall.

Police raced to the scene to find players screaming at eachother and the two players suffering from gashes to the head, the Old Bailey heard.

The victims both picked out Osterley player Ahmed on an identity parade but he today (Thurs) insisted he did not hit anyone.

Ahmed was also questioned by police over a pnds stlg 50,000 fraud at a travel company.

He claimed the company director of the firm Liam Purcell was able to exert pressure on players involved in the match.

‘I was asked to sign a blank piece of paper and take responsibility for the fraud,’ Ahmed said.

‘The police investigation into both matters would then be stopped.

‘

Mr Ahmed who did not sign could not explain why the fraud would be dropped if he took responsibility for it.

He added: ‘I don’t have that information.

‘

But he insisted: ‘I did nothing to assault these people.

I didn’t see any cricket bats with blood on them.

‘

The court has heard how the violence exploded at Southall’s ground after their wicket keeper Sulman Asghar appealed for a stumping.

He was hit by the batsmen and Ahmed, who was keeping score dashed on to the pitch, the jury heard.

Burly Ahmed, who is 6ft 3ins tall, is said to have hit Mr Glen Lloyd and then shouted: ‘Where’s the wicket keeper?’ before attacking the stumper.

Mr Ashgar was knocked unconscious and both men were treated in hospital for gashes to the head.

Ahmed was scoring at the time of the incident and said he was trying to calm down an elderly man who was also scoring.

The player claimed he did not see the attack on the two fielders.

Ahmed later apologised to Southall players about the incident but claimed in court he was just making a general statement.

‘I was just saying it was not the way cricket should be played,’ he said.

Ahmed of (46) Goodwin Close, Mitcham, denies wounding Mr Lloyd with intent and causing actual bodily harm to Mr Asghar on August 12 last year.

The trial continues.

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