The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kochi likely venue for Pakistan match

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Kochi likely venue for Pakistan match

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 8. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has staked its claim to host a One-Day International match between India and Pakistan this year. "The KCA has submitted a memorandum to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressing its desire to host a one-day match,'' said the KCA president, S. Karunakaran Nair, at a press conference here on Saturday.

He said the KCA had ensured availability of the Jawaharlal Nehru international stadium at Kochi from the GCDA. However, the venue and dates of the India-Pakistan series will be finalised only after the meeting of the fixtures committee of the BCCI. The committee is supposed to meet on January 17 and Mr. Nair said Kochi had a good chance of hosting a match, provided all the matches in the Indo-Pak one-day series are day affairs.

The Pakistan team is tentatively expected to arrive in India on February 25. Pakistan will play three Tests and five ODIs.

Schools tournament

Mr. Karunakaran Nair also said the KCA's inaugural all-Kerala schools tournament would be held at the Agriculture College ground, Vellayani from January 10 to 18.

Champion teams from the 14 revenue districts of the State will participate in the tournament. The teams will be divided into two groups and matches played on a knockout basis. Matches up to the quarterfinals will be 30 overs-a-side, while the semifinals and finals will be of 40 overs.

The KCA will provide free boarding and lodging and will pay the actual travel expenses for the players. The prize money for the winning team is Rs 10,000, while Rs 7500 will be paid to the runner-up.

The winner and runner-up of this tournament will qualify for the all-India tournament, planned to be held in April or May this year.

The teams: Madrasuthul Rahmania VHSS, Padne; St. Joseph's HSS, Thalassery; SKMJ School, Kalpetta; Rehmania VHSS Kozhikode; Govt. HS, Manjery; Kallady HSS, Manarcadu; Sri Ramavarma Memorial HSS, Puranattukara; NSS HSS, Tripunithura; St. George HSS, Muthalakkodam; St. Dominic's, Kanjirapally; Govt. HSS, Aravukad; MGM HSS, Thiruvalla; Govt. VHS & BHS, Kottarakkara and St. Mary's HSS, Pattom. — Our Sports Reporter

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