Australia’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka was intended to serve as a diversion from the island country’s economic hardship, but on Saturday, the anger roiling the nation reached within shouting distance of the field. Here in this article, we talk about the Australia test in Galle.
For a protest against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s poor handling of the nation’s finances, hundreds of protesters scaled the walls of the picturesque Galle Fort during the second Test’s morning session.
The loud cries for Rajapaksa’s resignation could be heard coming from the stands as Australia ended their innings. Two hours later, an incensed throng in the capital forced the president to leave his residence.
“Clearly, the nation is in upheaval right now, and the outside world is speaking out. Obviously, we could hear it because we can still hear it now “After the game, Australia’s Steve Smith stated.
The former captain, who finished his innings with a score of 145 not out, said that the hullabaloo had no impact on the game. He answered, “You can hear a lot. “But nobody was affected by it, and it had no bearing on what was going on here.”
About an hour before noon, Smith was at the crease when the demonstrators scaled the fort walls. He said, “I passed them by there this morning, but didn’t pay any mind to it.
The protest has made it on to the fort overlooking the cricket. The cops can't stop numbers like this pic.twitter.com/14HaQ2s7Qd
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) July 9, 2022
Right outside the Mahinda Rajapaksa Pavilion of Galle International Stadium. pic.twitter.com/NJHUWYRsnL
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) July 9, 2022
More interested in the scene, commentators and match officials paused to take images of the protestors on their cell phones from a balcony above the protest location.
The Galle stadium demonstration was one of several held on Saturdays around the nation.
A crowd gathered around the cricket field throughout the day to wave Sri Lankan flags and lament the effects of the economic crisis.
According to protester Janith Malinga, “My wife and I have been surviving on one meal a day for the past two months to ensure our child receives three.”
Malinga asserted that Rajapaksa’s resignation was necessary to improve the nation’s dismal circumstances.
‘The game should go on as usual’
The 22 million inhabitants of the island nation have faced months of hardship due to severe food and fuel shortages, rolling blackouts, and soaring prices.
At the beginning of the trip, Australia’s white-ball skipper Aaron-Finch expressed his team’s desire that they might provide some “pleasure” and entertainment to Sri Lanka while it dealt with the issue.
The most recent turmoil occurs during Australia’s final game of their trip, while Pakistan’s team is also present on the island for their future series.
Officials from cricket claimed there were no plans to alter their timetables and that the political unrest had no impact on the game. “The existence of the games is not opposed. Fans are actually supportive, so there’s no need to postpone “AFP was informed by a cricket board official.
