The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has received formation for allotting Kochi, ODI between India and West Indies in November later this year. It was just last year that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was shine with a new ground to host FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Known for hosting both cricket and football, the stadium recently hosted ISL matches for the home side Kerala Blasters much to the adulation of the players and fans. Now, Master Blasters aka Sachin Tendulkar has come out in the public opposing the idea of an ODI there.

He along with others fear that the turf might be damaged and would lose out on being one of six FIFA approved football grounds in India. Tendulkar found support from Sourav Ganguly, who also co-owns the Kolkata-based ISL franchise Atletico de Kolkata. Veteran India footballers M Vijayan and CV Pappachan have also come out against the move.

However, KCA vice-president Abdul Rahman maintains that Tendulkar’s views are personal. He said: “The stadium has hosted cricket and football matches in the past. We had a meeting earlier with Greater Cochin Development Authority and told them about our decision to hold the cricket match here. Both sports can be played together.”

Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, 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 World Cup.