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KCA's motive to shift West Indies ODI is highly suspect: Shashi Tharoor
Opposition is mounting over the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA)\'s plans to host the India-West Indies ODI in November at Kochi, with former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor stating that the association\'s move was \'suspect\'.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition is mounting over the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA)'s plans to host the India-West Indies ODI in November at Kochi, with former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor stating that the association's move was 'suspect'.
Tharoor, Thiruvananthapuram MP, said he has already spoken to Committee of Administrators (CoA) Chief Vinod Rai against the KCA's "bizarre" decision to transfer a ODI match from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, whose ground was last used for the U-17 Football World Cup.
"He has promised to review the matter. KCA's motive is highly suspect", Tharoor had tweeted.
Spoke to CoA Chief VinodRai to denounce Kerala Cricket Assn's bizarre decision to transfer the India-WI ODI from a match-ready Trivandrum stadium to Kochi, whose ground was last used for the U17 Football World Cup. He has promised to review the matter. KCA motives highly suspect
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 19, 2018
In another tweet, the local MP thanked everyone for the outpouring of support for his firm opposition to KCA's shifting the ODI to Kochi.
"Turf laid for top-class football would have to be dug up, while a cricket-ready SportsHub stadium in Trivandrum, the best in India, lies idle. Who gains from this suspect decision?', he asked in the tweet.Kerala Blasters team member Iain Hume expressed his dismay over the move saying it was upsetting. "I understand there is lot of cricket in India. But I also understand that there is lot of football in Kerala".
Thanks for the outpouring of support for my firm opposition to KCA's shifting the WI ODI to Kochi. Turf laid for top-class football would have to be dug up, while a cricket-ready SportsHub stadium in Trivandrum, the best in India, lies idle. Who gains from this suspect decision?
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 20, 2018
Another Blasters key player C K Vineeth said the Jawaharlal Stadium in Kochi is one of six in India that are approved by FIFA, a certification that will take immense effort to obtain again. When India has been known for being a 'cricket crazy' nation, is it really necessary to dig up a football pitch to play a cricket match? #SaveKochiTurf, he tweeted.
The JN Stadium is one of only six in India that are FIFA approved,a certification that will take immense effort to obtain again. When India has been known for being a 'cricket crazy' nation, is it really necessary to dig up a football pitch to play a cricket match? #SaveKochiTurf
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018
Veteran footballers I M Vijayan and C V Pappachan have also come out against the move.
