NETS FIXED AT KHETTARAMA ....

NETS FIXED AT KHETTARAMA ....

SO THAT STONES CANNOT BE HURLED

Steps have been taken by authorities this morning to cover open spaces on the top sections

of Pavilion C and D prior to the fourth one-day match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan which is scheduled to be held tomorrow at R. Premadasa Grounds.

As such, blue-coloured nylon nets have been fixed so that even if stones are hurled it would do no damage to the spectators in future. This new procedure has been carried out on a decision taken by Sidath Wettimuny, Chairman of the interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket. These nets have been installed as one of the precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate cantankerous incident which broke out last Sunday when the one-day match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was in progress. At the time the aforementioned incident took place last Sunday even the new chairman of the International Cricket Council, Zaheer Abbas too was present as a member of the audience and he and the third umpire Shrinath had mentioned at that moment that the game should somehow or other go on to a finish and not to consider it so much of a serious matter.

Whatever it is, though 1100 police officers were deployed on the grounds that day, there are accusations that they were not found in Pavilion C and D as much as it was necessary. Inquiries are being conducted as to why when it was possible to settle the commotion within that space itself where the conflict occured the police had not taken proper action. Though it was not permitted for liquor to be brought into the stands, not much attention had been focused on that factor that day when the incident flared up. There are reports to say that spectators have been provided access without sufficient scrutiny.

A conflict of opinion which started between two individuals who were after liquor later took on the shape of a racial conflict and subsequently went as far as an impulse between defeat and pride of victory and then twisted itself finally into an unfortunate incident where an overseas player arrived in Sri Lanka on a tour was targetted in the attack.

President Maithripala Sirisena too was present for an observation check to inquire about this situation. Some photographs of the netting covering the grounds, from BELOW