Kerala Cricket Association chips in to help state finances

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Kochi, Sep 23 (IANS) The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has decided not to seek tax exemption on ticket sales for the India-West Indies first ODI scheduled to be held here on October 8 in view of the state government's precarious financial position, its chief said on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, KCA president T.C. Mathew said the state government would be richer by more than Rs.5 million as the association was not asking for an exemption in tax.

"In the past, we were given exemption by the state government and going through the media reports of the state's financial position, we are not asking for any exemption," he said.

Tickets would be priced from Rs.200 to Rs.1,500 and as always, watching international cricket here at the Jawaharlal Nehru flood-lit stadium is the cheapest in the country, he said.

The Kerala government - for the first time since the Oommen Chandy government assumed office in 2011 - went into overdraft early this month and since then, has announced a slew of tax hikes to tide over the difficult financial position.

The ODI in Kochi would be the first match in the series against the West Indies. Incidentally, the last ODI played here was also against the West Indies, the match which saw Chris Gayle suffering an injury.

"All arrangements are ready and ticket sales for the 50,000 capacity stadium will begin later this month. The stadium and the ground are all in fine shape," added Mathews.