Malaysia’s iconic Kinrara Oval cricket stadium is in danger of being abandoned after a property developer reportedly forced sport’s local body out.
The Kinrara Oval was built in 2003 and has hosted ODIs featuring India, Australia and the West Indies, along with Under-19 World Cup games. The venue sits on prime real estate west of the capital Kuala Lumpur. Virat Kohli was the captain of the India U19 team when the men in blue won the 2008 U-19 World Cup there.
However, the Malaysian Cricket Association’s lease has expired and they have been told to vacate by the end of the month, according to the group’s secretary Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali.
“It will be a sad day if we lose the Kinrara Oval,” he was quoted as saying by AFP. India batsman Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 141 against the West Indies in an ODI at the venue in September 2006.
India’s then U19 captain Virat Kohli (2nd r) with Ravindra Jadeja (r) at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup.
“It is a world class, iconic pitch. We want the ground to remain the home of Malaysian cricket.”
The association is trying to save the venue and the ICC supported the effort.
“Cricket in Malaysia is flourishing with the number of players in all age groups growing… and we are hopeful a sustainable solution can be found,” David Richardson, the ICC chief executive said in a statement.
“The ICC will continue to support Malaysia cricket and hopes the Kinrara Oval will remain an international cricket venue.”
The Pakistan women’s team are currently playing Australia’s in an ODI series at the stadium.
The local body met with the sports minister last week and Iqbal said he has also written to Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
