Chris Gayle set to bring cricket fever to Puthuppally on August 30

Cricket fans in Puthuppally are in for a special treat as West Indies batting great Chris Gayle is set to visit the town on August 30.

Gayle, one of the most destructive batters in cricket history, will arrive in Puthuppally at 10 am. He will first pay floral tributes at the grave of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy before attending a public event at the Georgian Public School ground.

The former West Indies star will be welcomed with a procession featuring 11 traditional art forms representing Puthuppally's cultural heritage. The procession will include Kathakali, Pulikali, Koodiyattam, Kalaripayattu, Thiruvathira, Koothu and Panjari Melam, among others.

The logo of the Puthuppally Heritage Cultural Committee will also be unveiled during the event. Gayle will subsequently interact with students as part of an interactive session. The cricketer will also visit the site at Vennimala being considered for the development of an international stadium.

"The aim of the visit is to bring international attention to the sports and cultural sectors of Puthuppally," said Chandy Oommen, MLA and chairman of the organising committee.

Gayle's visit is expected to draw cricket fans from Puthuppally and neighbouring areas.