Battle of the Maroons postponed by four weeks
View(s):The third game of the schools cricket big match season, the Battle of the Maroons encounter between Ananda and Nalanda colleges, has been postponed by four weeks according to reliable information. The Battle of the Maroons s played during the first weekend of March
Battle of the Maroons will be played under tight security this year - File pic
every year, following the games between Isipathana and Thurstan colleges and the Battle of the Saints encounter between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s colleges.
Routinely, the Battle of the Maroons begins on a Saturday which is the closing day of the Battle of the Saints. But this season it is said that the Ananda-Nalanda battle has been moved to April 4, 5 and 6 and the venue also has been shifted from the SSC to the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
The decision to change the venue has been seriously considered after last year’s encounter ended in violence.
The customary parading within the ground will strictly be prohibited this season as the two-day encounter will be immediately followed with the limited overs encounter which is to be played on April 6 at the same venue.
The organising committee has decided to deny access in to the ground to any person other than the team members, match officials and the ground staff. Spectators and supporters will be strictly confined to their respective enclosures owing the safety of the players. These changes have been made after considering the safety of the players and as an attempt to preserve the value of the encounter according to officials.
Last season over 20 persons suffered injuries after nearly thousand old boys of both schools clashed following heated arguments. Several journalists and photographers too were subjected to assault of old boys and parents. Eventually the police had to intervene and use tear gas to bring the tensed situation under control.
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