![Rinku Singh gets in fight with ground staff in UPT20 [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787119075240_RinkuSinghinfightwithgroundstaff.jpg?type=hq)
Rinku Singh gets in fight with ground staff in UPT20 [Source: X]
Rinku Singh, who last represented India in the Zimbabwe T20I series, has now stepped into another controversy while playing in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026.
Captaining Meerut Mavericks, Rinku was involved in a quarrel with a ground staff member ahead of the August 16 match against Gorakhpur Lions, which put him in the wrong from a moral cricketing rules perspective.
What happened between Rinku Singh and the ground staff?
Ahead of the match against the Lions, the Meerut Mavericks team was practising on the ground, which is a common sight before almost every cricket match.
Before a match, teams usually come onto the field to warm up and swing their arms and bats to get into the rhythm of the game. However, for this, two separate areas are usually allocated to each team, with no player from the other team allowed to enter the opposition team's practice area.
Interestingly, Rinku Singh and one of his teammates were captured on camera trying to practise bowling in the reserved area of the opposition team, during the UPT20 2026 league.
Rinku mocks ground staff in UPT20 league
In the video, Rinku and his teammate were seen walking towards the opposition's practice pitch, while a ground staff member was seen chasing them and asking them to move away from the area, as it violated the rules.
Watch the video below:
However, Rinku did not listen and still went to the opposition's area to deliver a ball on the pitch. As the ground staff member relentlessly chased them out, Rinku and his teammate kept laughing.
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Is invading the opposition pitch during practice illegal?
While practising on the opposition's practice pitch is not exactly illegal, it is unclear from the video whether Rinku was trying to check the pitch conditions of the exact match pitch or not.
The opposition's pitch is meant for practice, and although Rinku Singh is not allowed to enter the area due to disciplinary and precautionary purposes, bowling or using the opposition's practice area is not directly termed illegal under the Laws of Cricket.
However, violating the match pitch during intervals or before or after the day's play is absolutely prohibited. The pitch is highly sensitive, and its condition dictates how the ball will behave throughout the match. Hence, MCC’s Law 41 strictly forbids players from damaging the pitch, with tampering or bowling on it before or after the match prohibited.
Will Rinku Singh get punished for the offence?
Rinku, who has currently played two matches, leading the Mavericks and scoring 53 runs, might not come under the scanner since using an opposition practice pitch is not a punishable offence under the Laws of Cricket.
The incident took place on a designated practice pitch rather than the actual match pitch. Hence, it did not tamper with the live playing surface, meaning no penalty or disciplinary ban can be imposed on Rinku.
Also, in local cricket leagues, players from opposing teams frequently share the ground during pre-match warm-ups, walking over to look at the pitch or playfully rolling down a few practice balls, which can be treated as banter. Hence, it would not necessarily be considered a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.
Unless a player actively uses a tool to destroy or vandalise a practice strip, simply bowling on it does not constitute criminal trespass or property damage. Hence, it is safe to say that Rinku Singh is unlikely to face any punishment for the incident.
