Sound of Sri Lanka’s papare musicians returns to T20 World Cup stadiums
The infectious music of Sri Lanka’s wildly popular papare bands can now be heard at the T20 World Cup.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan cricket fans were disappointed when they were asked not to bring musical instruments into UAE stadiums during the T20 games.
Groups of families who carried drums to Sunday’s game against Bangladesh were turned away by security at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
They were allowed into the venue once they had put the drums back in their cars.
Drums, cymbals and trumpets make up the papare music that is central to the Sri Lankan cricketing experience.
The bands have gained fame as they follow the Sri Lankan cricket team around the world and the instruments have been permitted in previous games in the UAE.
International Cricket Council organisers said venues would now be “happy to accommodate musical instruments”.
“There were some restrictions as per the terms and conditions of venues which had to be adhered to,” an ICC spokesman told The National.
“Some instruments were not allowed but we are liaising with venues and our security advisers to lift those restrictions, since we understand the need to build up the atmosphere.”
Sri Lankans say they have grown up with papare music that is a fixture at cricket matches of all levels.
Sports lovers were delighted that their special brand of music was cleared in time for the game against Australia on Thursday and Saturday’s match against South Africa.
“We need our music; we need the papare. It’s not the same in the stadiums when you cheer without the papare,” said Dubai resident George Hettiaratchy.
“We like to sing, dance and enjoy our cricket. This is how Sri Lankans enjoy matches. We assured the ICC that we will comply with all safety guidelines.”
Describing themselves as “music lovers who love popular papare music”, several fans wrote to the ICC appealing for permission to take the instruments into stadiums.
They said papare bands were permitted during cricket games in the Emirates in 2011, 2013 and 2017-19.
At this year’s World Cup T20 games, music is played over the public address system and drummers in traditional costumes can be seen near the boundary.
But fans said this was not the same as bringing their own musical instruments to play familiar tunes.
In the past, Sri Lankans pooled together to fly papare musicians to the UAE.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, they decided to rely on local musicians for the T20 games.
“This time it was difficult to get sponsorship but if we qualify for the semi-finals, 100 per cent we will bring the papare from Sri Lanka,” Mr Hettiaratchy said.
Sri Lankan Dimantha Mark and his son practise songs before big games. He said children were disappointed when they were not permitted entry with drums for Sunday’s match, when Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh.
“We had to walk back a few kilometres to put the drums back in the car,” he said.
“We tried to explain to the security that we have taken the drums for previous matches. Win or lose, we want to cheer our team.”
During the 2011 World Cup, Sri Lankan officials barred drums and bands from venues, along with a ban on defamatory banners, posters and glass bottles owing to security concerns.
The ban on musical instruments was later withdrawn following objections from fans.