KOCHI: Amid speculation that Kochi’s very own IPL team, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK), could be given away to Ahmedabad, fans are pouring in their support in a bid to retain it in the city.What mainly worries KTK fans is that no more IPL matches will be played in Kochi if the team goes to Ahmedabad. “It will be an irrevocable loss to all cricket fans in Kerala. If our own team won’t play at Kochi, no other team will. I just hope that the officials concerned take measures to prevent this,” said Sujith Balachandran, an ardent KTK fan. “KTK is surely an icon of our city and we cannot afford to lose it,” commented another fan in an online blog. “Majority of cricket fans in Kerala had not got the chance to view a real match before the Kochi team was formed. Taking the team away from its home ground is a distressing situation for all KTK fans,” opined Nithin S Nair, a die-hard fan of the Kochi Tuskers. “The main reason why our team is being ripped out of Kochi is the lack of government support. If they do not do something immediately, Kerala is going to lose face,” he added.Making the moveKOCHI: After being locked in a tussle over exemption of entertainment
tax, complimentary passes and sealing of tickets during the IPL matches
here last season, the Kochi Corporation has decided to speed up the
proceedings to help the Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) management get the
refund due to them on unused tickets.The IPL team had already
submitted the necessary statements to the corporation authorities
stating the amount that the latter owed them. “We are processing the
financial statement submitted by the KTK. The assessment will be made
based on the total number of tickets sold out of the bunch of tickets
sealed,” Kochi Corporation secretary Ajith Patil told City Express.He
said that the process was delayed due to the Koch Tuskers submitting
the necessary details late. “They submitted the details only last month.
Now we will have to calculate the total amount due to them. For
example, if the Corporation has sealed 1000 tickets of Rs 600 each and
they have paid the entertainment tax for the entire thousand tickets,
the team owners will have to present the remaining number of sealed
tickets that were left unsold,” added Patel.The details will be sent
to the Finance Standing Committee which will analyse it. They will then
be presented at the Corporation Council, which will give its final
node,” the Secretary added. He also made it clear that since it was a
high value event, the civic body was ready to refund the amount due to
the IPL team.The issue related to tax exemption between the civic
body and the KTK management had delayed the sales of tickets for five
IPL matches played at the J N Stadium here. The team management had
alleged that the authorities’ demand for an increased number of
complimentary passes had caused a delay in sealing tickets. Countering
the allegations, the Corporation said that the delay on the part of the
Kochi IPL franchise in remitting the tax money was the only reason for
the delay. Now, with the Corporation authorities making it clear that
they are ready to pay the refund, it is the turn of the IPL franchise to
decide whether to play their home matches next season here or move away
to another city.Pitch not perfectKOCHI: After being celebrated as a harbinger of better times for Kerala
cricket, the Indian Premier League continues to tease Kochi.The
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is sitting down on Monday
to consider the vexed issue of a home venue for Kochi Tuskers Kerala,
following repeated requests by the KTK management - comprising
businessmen having roots in Gujarat - to shift the IPL franchise to
Ahmedabad.However, sources connected to the BCCI told City Express
that shifting the home venue away from the place to which the IPL team’s
name is related - as in the case of Kochi Tuskers Kerala - is not going
to be easy. It is learnt that the decision is likely to be left to an
independent committee which will study the points put forward by the KTK
management and the Kerala Cricket Association regarding the issues
raised by the former.Kochi Cricket Private Limited, the owner of the
newest IPL team, had written to the BCCI stating that they could not
continue playing in Kochi as the inaugural season failed to attract
enough crowds. The high rate of entertainment tax, that of 24 per
cent, levied by the state government was cited as another reason.
Gujarat, where the state cricket association is headed by Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, is willing to waive the entertainment tax in full,
compared to the 50 per cent exemption provided by Kerala. Even as the
future of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium as a venue for the
high-profile T-20 competition hangs in the balance, the KCA is almost
cock-sure that the event will come back to enthrall fans in the state
next season as well. Last season, five of KTK’s home matches were played
here. Giving credence to that belief is the fact that the BCCI has
been a big supporter of KCA, with international matches held in Kochi -
barring a washed out India-Australia ODI last year - witnessing packed
and boisterous galleries with top class security in place.Countering
the KTK owners’ arguments, the KCA stated that it was lack of foresight
in setting ticket-rates and its distribution that led to a fall in
spectator interest for IPL matches. If the KCA is handed over the
responsibility of ticketing, it could bring back the crowds, they point
out. “We have submitted our version of the issue to the BCCI. Now it is
up to the BCCI to decide,” KCA secretary T C Mathew told City Express.“We
have also stated clearly that events that led to a loss in revenue were
not of the KCA’s doing. We are going ahead with efforts to get the JN
International Stadium and the wickets ready for the hosting the IPL in
2012.” The possibility of having to come back to the original venue is not lost on the Tuskers either. Former
India all rounder and Tuskers assistant coach Sanjay Bangar had visited
the J N Stadium to ascertain the level of preparedness a few days back
and reportedly went back a happy man. Meanwhile, curators are hard
at work to prepare the outfield and the wickets for the new season
beginning with a Ranji Trophy game on November 10. “We have relaid
the centre wickets and have raised the square by a couple of inches,”
KCA chief curator P V Ramachandran told City Express.“The outfield
is currently being mowed so as to get the green back in the required
thickness by November. This season, we are providing six practice
wickets, compared to four last season.”
Comments
0 comment