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Umpires ask <i>papare</i> band to stop playing

Umpires asked a papare (brass) band at the P Sara Oval to stop playing during overs, for the second Colombo Test match in a row

<i>Papare</i> bands have long been a feature of cricket in Sri Lanka&nbsp;&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;ICC

Papare bands have long been a feature of cricket in Sri Lanka  •  ICC

Umpires asked a papare (brass) band at the P Sara Oval to stop playing during overs, for the second Colombo Test match in a row. The band set up in the "Sanga Fan Zone" were also asked to lower their volume, but continued to play during the match.
On Sunday, the fourth umpire was seen directing a papare band in the stand near the tennis court to first lower their volume, then stop playing altogether. The band then took to playing only during the gaps between overs, and in the drinks breaks.
Umpires had also directed the papare band to stop playing on the fourth day during Pakistan's Test at the P Sara in June. On that occasion, Misbah-ul-Haq was seen complaining to the umpire about the music coming from the same stand. The on-field umpire immediately gestured to the band to 'kill the noise'.
None of the India players seem to have had any issue with the music during this series, however, and the team management confirmed that they had made no complaint. The ICC has not officially stated why the band was asked to stop on Sunday. The most likely explanation is that the umpires have requested a quieter atmosphere, in order to better hear the action, and discern nicks and edges. At least four wrong caught-behind or bat-pad decisions had been given in Galle, when no music had been playing.
Papare bands have been a distinctive feature of Sri Lankan cricket grounds for decades. Ahead of his final home match last year, Mahela Jayawardene had said: "The best memories of playing at home for me will be the fans - the music, the rhythm and all that. I grew up playing with that for my school. We've always had it when we played the big matches. To finish it off with that same rhythm - you can't ask for anything else. That's the uniqueness about Sri Lankan cricket. That is the flair that we grew up playing with."

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando