PATNA, Jan 19: Indian test cricketers, including batsmen Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, were escorted away unhurt on Monday after fans rioted at a charity Twenty20 game in the eastern city of Patna. Around 20 people were injured when policemen with batons chased fans who invaded the field to get close to their favourite players at the prize distribution, police and witnesses said.

“All cricketers are safe”, senior police official Anwar Hussain told Reuters. Around 50,000 fans turned up for the game.

Television pictures showed chaotic scenes inside the venue with security officials chasing away hundreds of fans who jumped over the wire fencing and ran onto the pitch.—Reuters