Chennai to play home games in Pune for the rest of the IPL season after protestors threatened to release snakes at Chepauk Stadium
Snakes at the game! Chennai shift to Pune
The Indian Premier League has shifted games away from Chennai, which is in the grip of a water crisis, after protesters threatened to release snakes during the next match at Chepauk Stadium.
The IPL has moved the Chennai Super Kings' remaining six home matches to Pune after threats of more protests from angry locals, who scuffled with police and threw shoes on the pitch during their first home match on Tuesday.
"The matches had to be shifted out of Chennai as police had said that they were unable to provide security in the prevailing situation," IPL Chairman Rajv Shukla told PTI.
"CSK (Chennai Super Kings) is not averse to shifting base to Pune."
Gutted that we have had to move from Chepauk, the atmosphere was unbelievable! Thoughts with the fan who was badly hurt last night, no one should go to watch & end up in hospital. Hope he recovers soon & all issues are resolved. Keep supporting us it makes a huge difference! https://t.co/CSd4jekFF0%E2%80%94 Sam Billings (@sambillings) April 11, 2018
Tuesday's match at Chepauk was the first time the Super Kings had played in Chennai since a two-year ban was handed down for a betting scandal.
But their homecoming was marred when protesters, trying to raise awareness about a long-running water dispute with neighbouring Karnataka, burned merchandise and jostled with police outside the stadium.
Shoes were hurled at Chennai players on the boundary ropes during the match, which the Super Kings won over the Kolkata Knight Riders despite the disruption.
On Wednesday, a Tamil protest group threatened to release snakes during Chennai's next match on April 20 against Rajasthan Royals if it was not shifted away from the city.
Heart breaking news..no more ipl games in chennai.. fans have waited two years for CSK to play in front of them at home..hope all the issues get solved soon and matches comes back to chennai soon...Thank u for your love,wishes,prayers would be needed all the time..%E2%80%94 Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 11, 2018
"I will let snakes into the stadium," T Velmurugan, a representative of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi political party, was quoted as saying.
"These snakes which we intend to let into the stadium will have absolutely no poison.
"Our idea is not to harm anybody, be it players, spectators or the police personnel on duty. We want to scare people away, let there be no cricket match now."
The drought-prone state has witnessed increasing protests in recent weeks over a disputed accord with Karnataka on how to share water from the key Cauvery river.
The return to Pune will be a homecoming of sorts for Super Kings captain MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming, who joined forces at Rising Pune Supergiant during Chennai's two-year ban.
Sad to be leaving Chennai today. Great to be back and again experience the love and passion the Tamil Nadu fans have for cricket and CSK. I trust a ‘peaceful’ resolution is found soon for the problems at hand. Thanks to everyone for making the team so welcome.%E2%80%94 Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) April 11, 2018