Opposition is mounting over the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA)’s plans to host the India-West Indies ODI in November at Kochi, with the hashtag #SaveKochiTurf gaining plenty on traction on social media platform Twitter.
Kerala Blasters co-owner Sachin Tendulkar (who’s team play at the Kochi stadium) and Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri are the latest and, perhaps, the biggest names to speak against the move.
Worried about the potential damage to the FIFA approved World class Football turf in Kochi. Urge the KCA to take the right decision where cricket (Thiruvananthapuram) and Football (Kochi) can happily coexist. pic.twitter.com/rs5eZmhFDP
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 20, 2018
We football fans in India have small joys and reasons to be happy about. A proper football pitch is one of them. Let's not snatch that away, even if it's for a little while.#SaveKochiTurf
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2018
Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor was one of the first big names to take up the issue, stating that the association’s move was ‘suspect’.
Tharoor, Thiruvananthapuram MP, said he has already spoken to Committee Of Administrators Chief Vinod Rai against the KCA’s “bizarre” decision to transfer a ODI match from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, whose ground was last used for the U-17 Football WorldCup.
“He has promised to review the matter. KCA’s motive is highly suspect”, Tharoor had tweeted.
In another tweet, the local MP thanked everyone for the outpouring of support for his firm opposition to KCA’s shifting the ODI to Kochi.
“Turf laid for top-class football would have to be dug up, while a cricket-ready SportsHub stadium in Trivandrum, the best in India, lies idle. Who gains from this suspect decision?’, he asked in the tweet.
Kerala Blasters team member Iain Hume expressed his dismay over the move saying it was upsetting.
“I understand there is lot of cricket in India. But I also understand that there is lot of football in Kerala”.
Another Blasters key player C K Vineeth said the Jawaharlal Stadium in Kochi is one of six in India that are approved by FIFA, a certification that will take immense effort to obtain again.
“When India has been known for being a ‘cricket crazy’ nation, is it really necessary to dig up a football pitch to play a cricket match? #SaveKochiTurf, he tweeted.
The proposed move has got plenty of people talking since last night:
The JN Stadium is one of only six in India that are FIFA approved,a certification that will take immense effort to obtain again. When India has been known for being a 'cricket crazy' nation, is it really necessary to dig up a football pitch to play a cricket match? #SaveKochiTurf
— CK Vineeth (@ckvineeth) March 19, 2018
Everytime I got on the plane to Kochi, my heart would beat to see the JNS in its splendour.
— Arjun Namboothiri (@ArjunNamboo) March 20, 2018
I know being a Twitter warrior doesn't really help, but for all it's worth here's my bit: a picture to remind what we are going to kill. #SaveKochiTurf pic.twitter.com/I4BWXDvk4b
Dig up the Kochi turf and then, no play? On Nov 1, SW monsoon (thulavarsham) will still be over Kerala. Dear @BCCI, consult met office; shift both date and venue. #SaveKochiturf
— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) March 20, 2018
What a waste of sports infrastructure spend. Sometimes you have to wonder, if something like this would happen in a country that is serious about its sporting culture. The mediocrity is appalling. #SaveKochiTurf https://t.co/zrINoVUJb7
— Dhanya (@sreedhanya) March 20, 2018
When a sport is growing, we should give some leverage and space for it to grow. Destroying a turf to host one ODI match when there's alternative ground available, is going to be one the worst decisions. Together For football! #SaveKochiTurf @kbfc_manjappada
— B Stand Blues (@bstandblues) March 20, 2018
It is important to note that all that will be done to the pitch in Kochi, is for a game that will be called off if it rains. What a shambles that will be. #SaveKochiTurf
— Aakash Vinay (@aakashvinay17) March 19, 2018
Us players spend 90 minutes on the pitch. FIFA officials come and go. Fans come, shout and leave. But throughout the year, there are men and women who spend countless hours under the sun making sure that our stage is set. Let’s not do this to them. #SaveKochiTurf pic.twitter.com/5rHnzSstTH
— Rino Anto (@rinoanto) March 19, 2018
I was here last December to support @bengalurufc in Kochi and I can say that this is one of the best stadiums I’ve ever seen. It is a shame to see it being destroyed for cricket (nothing against the sport). #SaveKochiTurf @rinoanto @ckvineeth pic.twitter.com/asw95XKmOy
— Varsha Rajsekhar (@VarshaRajWBB) March 19, 2018
In solidarity with #SaveKochiTurf movement. No sport should be allowed to cannibalize another. Indian football deserves more respect than this. Co-exist and create a better sporting nation. #WestBlockBlues pic.twitter.com/UH96fyA1qO
— West Block Blues (@WestBlockBlues) March 20, 2018
THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME💙💛
— Supermachans-Chennaiyin FC Fans (@Supermachans) March 20, 2018
The JN Stadium in Kochi is more than a home to many.
We request KCA to not vandalize the home of 60k+ fans for one cricket match. There are plenty of cricket stadiums available. Please use them 🙏#SaveKochiTurf #Supermachans pic.twitter.com/0hbOBLGxIo
In solidarity with #SaveKochiTurf movement. No sport should be allowed to cannibalize another. Indian football deserves more respect than this. Co exist and create a better sporting nation.
— Rakesh Haridas (@TheDiemCarper) March 19, 2018
On the other side of the argument - initially - was Javier Ceppi, the man who oversaw the transformation of the Kochi pitch for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup. Ceppi was of the opinion that transforming the pitch should not be a problem, but even he later questioned the timing of the match and said it wasn’t prudent.
Renovation on the ground was done taking into consideration that JNI is a multipurpose stadium and that cricket should be played on it afterwards. There should not be a problem with installing a wicket and then reconverting the ground back to football
— Javier Ceppi (@JavierCeppi) March 19, 2018
When renovation was made to JNI, grass installed was Bermuda, so it could be compliant with ICC rules and could be used for both sports. Now, timing for the ODI does not seem to make it feasible for the conversion back to football without losing at least a month of season
— Javier Ceppi (@JavierCeppi) March 20, 2018
Let’s hope sanity prevails.