The Nepal Basketball League is set to resume from Monday after a four-day halt as the organisers of the country’s longest basketball tournament were forced to come up with fresh regulations following a tensed game between title contenders Tribhuvan Army Club and Times International Club on May 8.

National team skipper Sadhish Pradhan-led Times had edged Army 103-96 in double Over Time in what was the most tense match in domestic basketball history with the game stopped on numerous occasions due to unsporting behaviour. A day later, together with Nepal Basketball Association, organisers Play for Deprived Children Nepal handed different length of bans on players and officials, also assessing the past matches.

At a congested Times International College venue that had no security personnels, the organisers had to do a lot of exercise to complete the game which took almost three hours to finish due to unruly behaviour from the fans for which the playing teams blamed each other. The tournament referees also refused to take to the court from next day demanding security assurances.

The referees had to be taken away from the supporters who blamed them for a biased refereeing. PDCN sat with the referees, team managers and coaches in the last four days to come up with an updated regulation before it decided to resume the tournament from Monday.

The updated regulation includes a five-match home court ban on the hosts if it fails to control the home supporters. “The organisers will transfer the game to a desired safe location,” a statement in League’s official facebook page read. The new regulation has also stated that the away team will be responsible in managing the away crowd and if they fail to do so, the matches will be transferred.

“We are hopeful that all the teams will cooperate with us fully and we will be able to smoothly run the remainder of the tournament,” PDCN President Arun Karki said. The 55-day league is played under home and away format and will also see the launching of first ever Women’s Nepal Basketball League from May 29.

Unbeaten Times currently lead the standings with six consecutive victories and behind them are Army,who have lost one out of their six matches. On Monday, Army will hosts South Siders Basketball Club at the Army Headquarters in Bhadrakali in the morning match. Another title contender Golden Gate International Club will be up against Budhanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club in Battisputali.