Even though carrying posters, banners and message boards were banned inside the Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium in wake of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, the crowd was seen raining anti-government slogans when the giant screen showed Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A section of the crowd chanted: ‘Sarbananda Sonowal go back, Himanta Biswa go back’ when the giant screen displayed the visuals of the Chief Minister sitting along with other VIPs. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, among others were present at the same lounge.
The videos of the crowd raising anti-government slogans have now surfaced on social media. In one such video, the crowd is heard shouting ‘Ho-ho, Ho-ha’ – the trademark war cry of All Assam Students’ Union – and which is being raised during anti-CAA protests. Slogans like ‘Joi Aai Asom’ (Hail motherland Assam) also echoed in the stadium, a slogan used extensively during the anti-CAA protests.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli had won the toss and opted to field first. Unfortunately, it started to drizzle from 6:40 pm onwards. Rain water reportedly seeped through leaking covers that were used to cover the pitch at the Barsapara Stadium.
Despite the ground staff trying hairdryers, steam irons and vacuum cleaners to dry the wet patches on the pitch, the match was called off without a ball bowled shortly before 10 pm local time.
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