'Loud' papare band gets marching orders

COLOMBO: Music, dancing and cricket go hand in hand in the Emerald Isles. Papare, or brass bands, are an essential part of Sri Lankan cricket, as much as the popular 'steel bands' in the Caribbean. Over the last couple of Tests here, the papare are missing in action. Match referee Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe finds the loud trumpets too much of a distraction.
For the second Test in a row, Pycroft has banned the papare from playing at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground.Although the Indian players made no objection about the band playing in the 'Sanga Fan Zone' at the P Sara Oval, the musicians were asked to stop.Umpires had also objected to the papare during a Test against Pakistan in June. At that time, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq had complained to the umpires about the noise.