KOZHIKODE: The lovely cricket stadium at Krishnagiri, Wayanad, where the first unofficial cricket match between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’was played, is the product of BCCI curator Anoop Cholath Kandy, a son of the soil.
Anoop from Thalassery, who coordinated the matches, prepared the pitch in just 20 days. He began his career as an electrical engineer, became a BCCI first-level umpire and now is the curator, who has m-ade the land proud with his representation among the acclaimed cricket experts.
“I had to plan months ahead as the entire responsibility for the smooth conduct of the match was handed over to me,” he told DC. “The pitch should not misbehave and hence I had taken extra vigil about the minutest details,” he explained.
“The effort was appreciated by the players, and we can present the ground for any international matches hereafter,” he said.
Anoop, who started his career as an umpire with Kerala Cricket Association in 2013, attended the curator’s certificate course in Bangalore and secured the first rank.
He is looking forward to more BCCI assignments and wants more youngsters to come forward as umpires and curators.
