CricInfo to host Kerala Cricket Association website

The Kerala Cricket Association is celebrating its golden jubilee this year. On this occasion, the KCA launched its official website in association with CricInfo.com on Sunday, thereby becoming the first association to do so. The site was formally inaugurated by the KCA president A Salim.

According to a KCA press release from Thiruvananthapuram, henceforth all the cricketing activities of the state association including the major all India and state level tournaments shall be on line. It will include profiles of past and present players umpires and officials.

To commemorate the jubilee year, the association is planning to conduct an unofficial international match in December subject to the approval of BCCI. It also has plans to conduct an all India Junior (under-17) tournament during the year. During the course of the tournament, a get together of all past players has also been planned. The association will host the three-day match between the visiting Australian side and the Board Presidents XI from March 6 to 8, 2001.

The association has also earmarked Rs 1.25 crore for the purchase of land for an exclusive cricket stadium and is also on the lookout for a ground on long term lease for conducting the association's activities. One of the grounds short listed for this purpose is the Fisheries College ground, Panangad in Ernakulam. There is also a proposal to start an indoor coaching centre at Trissur.

Some changes have been initiated in the form of state team selection in some categories this year. The under-16 tournament has been made into an all Kerala inter-district Championship while the selection of the under-22 and the senior teams will be done on an open trial basis.

It was also announced that Vector-X, a brand name in Jalandhar will sponsor the state side's cricket outfits this season.