Curtains for Chennai’s Beach Cricket

If you’re a Madras macchan, you should be cheesed off—no beach cricket no more on Marina.

If you’re a Madras macchan, there is reason to be cheesed off. Playing cricket on Marina beach is no longer allowed. Citing harassment of walkers and joggers, Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran has banned sports on the beach.

Residents took no time to challenge the embargo. Nearly 2,000 people turned up along a stretch of road near the beach, blocked traffic and staged a dharna. But there’s no mistaking that the ban will stay. “Chennai is expanding as a town and there are few public places for entertainment. But sport is a healthy activity and we’re in talks with the Chennai Municipal Corporation to look into the matter. This move was only due to complaints by the old people,” says Rajendran.

“We come to play here since there are few grounds in Chennai,” argues Vineeth, a regular beach cricketer. Former India captains S Venkataraghavan and Kris Srikkanth, too, were one-time participants in tennis-ball tournaments on the beach. 

Many cricketing countries have had a notable tradition of beach cricket. The likes of Viv Richards and Brian Lara played on the beaches of Antigua and Trinidad. Marina beach may not have had that kind of international appeal, but its connection to cricket history now seems to have been nipped.

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