Good news for football lovers! The India-West Indies one day international match, which was scheduled to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, has been shifted to Thiruvananthapuram, according to official sources.
The decision was made after Kerala Cricket Association officials met with Sports Minister A.C. Moideen. The minister had categorically refused to let the ground at the Kaloor stadium be dug up for the cricket match. The KCA said that the minister's views have been taken into account, and a final decision regarding the matter will be declared on Saturday after their general body meeting.
However, KCA officials mentioned that this is a temporary solution and that cricket matches will be held in Kochi in the future.
Meanwhile, KCA has lambasted Sachin Tendulkar over his comments on shifting the ODI to Thiruvananthapuram. Jayesh George, KCA secretary, said that Sachin has no idea on how to prepare or maintain a pitch. He further said that Sachin's stand on using the Kaloor stadium only for football matches is because he owns the Kerala Blasters team.
The decision to dig up the ground at the JLN stadium that was prepared to match world class standard during the U-17 FIFA World Cup and ISL 2017-2018 events was met with heavy criticism from all over. From cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Kerala Blasters players Iain Hume, C.K. Vineeth to Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and India football captain Sunil Chhetri, support for maintaining the ground at Kaloor stadium has been pouring in.
Fans and football enthusiasts were outraged at the KCA's refusal to host the ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in the state capital. #SaveKochiTurf was trending on social media and the campaign further strengthened the movement to shift the venue. Tharoor had also called for a candlelight protest for the same on March 24 at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram.