THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Paving the way for hosting international cricket matches in the city soon, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Karyavattom Sports Facilities Ltd (KSFL) to use its greenfield international stadium here. As per the MoU signed on Monday, KCA will use the stadium for 180 days a year until September 2027. The stadium will be under KCA control from October 1 to January 31 and April 1 to May 30 every year.
Matches may be held on other dates also by paying additional charges. The KCA will maintain the stadium during this time span, and a minimum of Rs 15 lakh will be paid to KSFL during each match, which will go up to Rs 50 lakh depending on the revenue. “The last time an international cricket match was played in the state capital was in 1989 (between India and West Indies). We hope to host at least an ODI match this season,” said KCA president T.C. Mathew who is also BCCI vice-president. The pitches here will be ready in seven weeks, but it will take a minimum three months for the first match to be played here.
The MoU was signed by KCA secretary T N Ananthanarayanan and KSFL CEO K Sasidhar. KSFL director Anil Kumar Pandala was also present. Though the greenfield stadium was intended for both cricket and football, the Kerala Football Association (KFA) was not keen on Kariyavattom stadium citing lesser fans for football in southern Kerala. KCA also has a 30-year lease agreement with Greater Kochi Development Authority that gives them control over Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi. The Kariyavattom stadium operators have invested around Rs 300 crore and developed the facility on a DBOT (design-build- operate and transfer) basis for 35th National Games.
