The Central Travancore town of Thiruvalla is all set to have its own state-of-the-art indoor cricket complex with 24x7 practising facility. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) is implementing the project with the backing of the Thiruvalla municipality.
The KCA has constructed the 8000-sq-ft facility on 50 cents of land adjoining the Public Stadium in Thiruvalla town at a total cost of Rs.2.5 crore. According to Susheel Koshy George, KCA State vice president, and Jogy John, district secretary, the facility in Thiruvalla is, perhaps, the first of its kind in the State.
The synthetic turf laying is complete. The KCA has also set up an outdoor practising wicket with nets in the courtyard of the facility. Specially made natural grass wicket is the speciality of the practising nets in the courtyard.
A specially designed viewers’ gallery will provide facility for observation and video analysis of the players.
The nets have been fitted with 35 metal halide lamps of 400 watts each to facilitate practice during night. The facility also houses a library, multi-gym, board room, KCA district office, and a conference hall. Players attached to the District Cricket Academy, Cricket Academy at Schools project, and those selected for special coaching from different parts of the district would be given training under the guidance of experts at the facility, Mr. George said.
He said the KCA was ready to develop the adjoining Thiruvalla Public Stadium into a world-class cricket stadium if it gets permission from the municipal corporation. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will dedicate the cricket facility to the nation on Saturday.
