India is much more than Tamil Nadu: Sangakkara

“India is much more than Chennai and Tamil Nadu and I think the rest of India doesn’t have any bad feelings. We are here to play cricket, representing Sri Lanka and also on behalf of our franchises,” said Sunrisers Hyderabad captain and Sri Lankan cricket player, Kumar Sangakkara.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has refused to host the Lankan players in Chennai in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in the State.

“Politics, in this case, have affected and restricted our presence, our belief to play in every part of India. But I don’t think sports and the spirit of cricket is ever going to be curtailed by such prejudices,” he said on the sidelines of an event in India.

“The build-up has been different and difficult for the Sri Lankan players. But, at the end of the day, we are here to play in the IPL. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has made it clear that no Lankan players will be (playing) in Chennai,” Sangakkara further said. (PTI)