#SaveKochiTurf campaign pays off as Kerala Cricket Association shifts India-West Indies match to Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cricket Association on Thursday in principle decided to host the India-West Indies One-Day International in Thiruvananthapuram on 1 November. A decision in this regard was taken by Kerala Cricket Association officials after a meeting with Sports minister AC Moideen. [caption id=“attachment_4401089” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. ISL[/caption] “We have taken an in principle decision to host the India-West Indies ODI at Thiruvananthapuram in the wake of a government request,” KCA Secretary Jayesh George told reporters. “But a final decision on the matter will be taken after the Kerala Cricket Association’s general body gives an assent,” he said. The government has also said it will take the initiative to construct an International cricket stadium at Kochi, he said. The Kerala Cricket Association’s initial plans to host the ODI at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi had led to opposition from various quarters. Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who is also the co-owner of Kerala Blasters, former Indian captain and co-owner of the Kolkata-based ISL franchise ATK, Sourav Ganguly, Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri and former union minister Shashi Tharoor, have all come out against the KCA’s decision to host the one-dayer at Kochi. Apprehensions had been raised that hosting a cricket match at the Kochi stadium, the home ground of Kerala Blasters, would damage the world-class football turf and affect the ISL season that normally begins in October every year and lasts for around four months. The Kerala Cricket Association made the move to host the ODI at the Kochi stadium two days ago after the BCCI decision to award it the right to host the ODI.