FOUR young Pakistani cricket fans accused of violence after a Lord's match against Australia last summer have walked free from court for a second time.

All four were arrested following an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch by police investigating an injury caused to Aussie cricketer and former Rawtenstall professional Mike Bevan, who was hit by a missile.

They are Yasin Shafi, 18, of Oxford Road, Burnley, Haroon Qureshi, 20, of East Ham; Rizwan Hassan, 17, of Plaistow and Samiullah Khan, 19, of South Norwood.

They had pleaded not guilty at Middlesex Guildhall crown court to violent disorder inside the St John's Wood ground on June 23 last year.

The prosecution relied on Sky Sports footage of the mass ground invasion after the match, but Judge Timothy Lawrence ruled footage taken before the disturbance should have been released to the defence. The case was discontinued after lawyers successfully argued their clients would not receive a fair trial because footage of a drunken and abusive Australian fan who allegedly sparked the ugly scenes was not released.

The case against Shafi and his co-defendants also collapsed at London's Horseferry Magistrates Court in February when the Crown Prosecution Service failed to secure evidence from a TV cameraman covering the game.

District Judge Roger Davies said he was tired of waiting for the statement from the Sky Sports employee and dismissed the case, which was originally against Shafi and the other men.

But all three were re-arrested and re-charged with affray and using or threatening violence.

The match was part of the tri-nation tournament involving England, Australia and Pakistan and made news after a beer can was thrown at Australian cricketer Michael Bevan during a mass invasion.

Bevan, who was a batting sensation during his time at the Bacup Road ground, suffered slight bruising and swelling to the face.