Colombo, Aug 29 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lankan Police, on Tuesday said it had launched an investigation to identify suspects who had stirred trouble at an international cricket match played between Sri Lanka and India on Sunday.
Police Chief, Pujitha Jayasundara told local reporters that police had commenced a special probe to identify suspects who had thrown water bottles onto the field forcing the match to be suspended for 35 minutes.
Videos of angry spectators throwing the bottles on the ground had been taken into custody to assist in the investigations.
Videos of angry spectators throwing the bottles on the ground had been taken into custody to assist in the investigations.
India won the match to seal a series win after it won three One Day International’s (ODIs) out of the five game series against Sri Lanka played in the island country.
As the host nation were nearing their defeat in the 44th over, Sri Lankan fans, who had turned out in large numbers at the stadium and were on the grass banks, began throwing water bottles with India needing just eight runs to seal victory.
With the spectators continuing to hurl bottles, play was stopped and the players had to be huddled at the centre of the pitch.
The ground staff rushed to clear the bottles from the field but the crowd continued to boo the Sri Lankan team that has struggled all through this home series against India.
Following the incident, former Cricket Captain who is now the Petroleum Minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, urged the public on Monday to stop behaving in an unruly manner at the end of cricket matches.
“I request our cricket lovers not to behave like Indian spectators. We have a very good history and culture. Such misbehavior is not accepted in our culture and history,” Ranatunga said.
Meanwhile according to a Hindustan Times report, ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft has reportedly sought security assurance from the Sri Lankan cricket board for the remainder of the limited-overs series.
(The pic featured above shows an angry Sri Lankan fan shouting at Sri Lankan players as a police officer tries to stop him during the third ODI against Sri Lanka.(REUTERS))
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