Kochi: As per a report by the New Area Development Committee under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has done a commendable job in improving and developing the game of cricket in the state.
However, with the Supreme Court directing the BCCI to stop funding to the state associations till the latter accept the Justice Lodha Committee reforms, a protracted financial crisis is looming large over the KCA, which could cripple development projects and bog down its functions.
Notably, the KCA holds the top spot among state associations affiliated with the BCCI in terms of the land under possession as it owns a total of 90 acres of plots in different parts of Kerala, most of which were acquired to build new stadiums.
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The land procured by the KCA for its international stadium projects are in Edakochi, Wayanad, Perinthalmanna, Thodupuzha, Kasaragod, Ezhukone, and Mangalapuram.
As the 24-acre land it purchased at Edakochi has caught in legal entanglement and technical issues, the association is yet to start the work on the project.
The KCA has also taken up a project to develop grounds in either own land or in lands belonging to clubs or educational institutions on long-term understanding.
They include Fort Maithan in Palakkad, Konon Vayal Stadium in Thalassery, St Paul’s College ground in Kalamassery, Rajagiri Collge ground in Kakkanad, SD College ground in Alappuzha, St Ephrem's College Ground in Mannanam, CMS College ground in Kottayam and St Xavier’s College ground in Thumba, that have facilities to host first class matches.
The association has also set up a state-of-the-art Indoor Cricket Complex on 50 cents of leased land adjoining the Public Stadium in Thiruvalla town.
The BCCI provides grants to state bodies to host domestic tournaments including Ranji Trophy matches. But, the funds are released only after the conduct of the matches.
According to KCA president T.C. Mathew, the association needs around Rs 2.5-3 crore for preparing the state team for Ranji Trophy and conducting matches allotted to it. The BCCI bears only around 60 per cent of the total cost, he said.