LORD'S became the centre of a political protest this week as Tamil demonstrators called for cricket teams across the world to boycott the Sri Lankan team, who were playing inside. More than 50 protesters gathered at the Wellington Road entrance to the gro

LORD'S became the centre of a political protest this week as Tamil demonstrators called for cricket teams across the world to boycott the Sri Lankan team, who were playing inside.

More than 50 protesters gathered at the Wellington Road entrance to the ground - as the Sri Lankan team played South Africa - to demonstrate against human rights abuses inflicted during the military campaign by their country's government against the Tamil Tigers.

"Last year, Zimbabwe was banned from playing here on the grounds of human rights violations and the moral duty of the British team, who didn't feel they could play," said 19-year-old Abira Mi Raj. "In the last year, thousands have died, yet the British team has accepted Sri Lanka. We are outraged."

The group of protesters were armed with banners and placards condemning the Sri Lankan government.

Protester Achuthan Jeyan, 19, said: "It's only cricket and we don't like to see sport being politicised, but it's too late for that because they banned the Zimbabwean team from playing last year.