Kerala Cricket Association yields, ODI to be held in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has in principle decided to hold the India vs West Indies International One Day International (ODI) at Thiruvananthapuram instead of Kochi yielding to pressure from the state government and popular demand. A final decision on the matter will be taken during the KCA annual general body meeting at Kumarakom on Saturday.

The officials said that the state government had offered support to build a new stadium at Kochi. Also, the future matches will be played at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. The KCA secretary Jayesh George, president Franklin John and treasurer Sreejith V. Nair, announced the the decision after a meeting with sports minister A.C. Moideen in his chambers. Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran stated that KCA was urged to hold the match at Thiruvananthapuram on the day of ‘Kerala Piravi’ on November 1.

Mr Jayesh George reacting to Sachin Tendulkar’s comment on not fiddling with the football turf at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium reminded that the cricket maestro is now Kerala Blasters football team owner. “If a football turf can get damaged due to the cricket pitch, the same would be applicable to a cricket pitch also. The Kochi stadium was built big to suit cricket. We believe that cricket and football should co-exist there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor rubbished the KCA’s plans to build a new stadium at Kochi. “Kerala has at least two world-class cricket grounds, Thiruvananthapuram’s Sports Hub and Wayanad’s scenic hilltop field. Instead of perfecting these, some KCA officials want to build yet another stadium in the state. How many internationals will Kerala get to host?” he asked.