LDF manifesto damp squib for cricket fans
Cricket has a 100-year history in Kozhikode
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-10-18 06:40 GMT
KOZHIKODE: The LDF manifesto, which does not mention anything about cricket projects in the city, has irked the supporters of the game. The manifesto promises to expand the corporation football academy and take over the Set Nagji football tournament, but it has ignored the popular cricket game.
According to Kozhikode district cricket association statistics, over 1,000 registered members are playing in the city limits alone.
Cricket has a 100-year history in Kozhikode. Though the district has produced a number of cricketers, who have represented Kerala in first class cricket, there are no good grounds to play.
Though the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) requested the corporation to hand over the EMS Memorial Corporation Stadium for cricket matches, the corporation has not responded. The KCA had promised to bear the cost of maintenance and allow football matches on the ground.
“The LDF has not even made a mention about cricket in its manifesto while football gets a number of projects, including a promise to create a football township,” said a parent.
However, the district cricket association office-bearers refused to comment on the issue. “If we get the corporation stadium, we can host a good number of BCCI matches which are allotted to Kerala,” said association secretary K.V. Sanil Chandran.
“We are happy to see football getting a few good projects in the LDF manifesto. However, other sports organisations should also get a boost to make the city sports-friendly,” opined another office-bearer of a prominent sports organisation.