CHENNAI: Franchises of the Indian Premier League have reportedly requested authorities to avoid scheduling matches in Chennai due to anti-Sinhala sentiments in Tamil Nadu. 

The IPL board had earlier issued an informal advisory to franchises asking them to drop their Sri Lankan players for matches to be scheduled in Chennai. This was in view of rising tensions after India’s perceived laxity on the recent United Nations resolution on ethnic Tamils led to two suicides in protest.

The franchises responded strongly to the directive of dropping their Lankan players for Chennai matches with a request to discard the venue altogether, rather than face a strong Super Kings team without key personnel.

Sri Lankan players Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan and Tillakaratne Dilshan are playing for different IPL franchises.