Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala cricketers have started training hard at the Kerala Cricket Association gym in Thiruvananthapuram. Come IPL season four, who knows some of them would be rubbing shoulders with international cricketers.
Shashi Tharoor may have come under severe attack over the IPL Kochi issue, but here the Kerala Cricket Association is strongly backing Tharoor, and the young and budding cricketers see IPL Kochi as a stepping stone to international cricket.
"IPL is as good as playing international cricket. We are playing with the likes of Tendulkar, Gibbs and Gilchrist. It's absolutely like playing international cricket," said Vinan G Nai, Kerala Ranji player.
Notwithstanding the current controversy over IPL Kochi, the Kerala Cricket Association is confident of getting IPL to Kochi. KCA president TC Mathew feels that those who lost out to Rendezvous Sports may be behind the controversy. But the KCA and cricketers are firm on rallying behind Tharoor in this hour of crisis.
"He is a man who has actually brought IPL...he is the mentor...he only coordinated with the franchise partner. We have to stand with him. Kerala couldn't have dreamt of it, so we have to stand with him and we have to support Shashi Tharoor," said TC Mathew, Kerala Cricekt Association president.
"We are happy that as youngsters we are getting a great opportunity ...thanks to Shashi Tharoor and KCA," said Rohan Prem, Kerala ranji team captain.
The ruling CPIM's powerful youth wing - the DYFI - has welcomed IPL Kochi, but it wants a thorough probe into the role of Shashi Tharoor.
"I think whatever be the issue of Kerala or Gujarat or Kochi, the main thing is that as a minister he has to address the issues raised by Lalit Modi. So we are demanding a judicial probe into this issue," said Sreeramakrishnan, DYFI national president.
Shashi Tharoor may have come under severe attack over the IPL Kochi issue, but here the Kerala Cricket Association is strongly backing Tharoor, and the young and budding cricketers see IPL Kochi as a stepping stone to international cricket.
"IPL is as good as playing international cricket. We are playing with the likes of Tendulkar, Gibbs and Gilchrist. It's absolutely like playing international cricket," said Vinan G Nai, Kerala Ranji player.
Notwithstanding the current controversy over IPL Kochi, the Kerala Cricket Association is confident of getting IPL to Kochi. KCA president TC Mathew feels that those who lost out to Rendezvous Sports may be behind the controversy. But the KCA and cricketers are firm on rallying behind Tharoor in this hour of crisis.
"He is a man who has actually brought IPL...he is the mentor...he only coordinated with the franchise partner. We have to stand with him. Kerala couldn't have dreamt of it, so we have to stand with him and we have to support Shashi Tharoor," said TC Mathew, Kerala Cricekt Association president.
"We are happy that as youngsters we are getting a great opportunity ...thanks to Shashi Tharoor and KCA," said Rohan Prem, Kerala ranji team captain.
The ruling CPIM's powerful youth wing - the DYFI - has welcomed IPL Kochi, but it wants a thorough probe into the role of Shashi Tharoor.
"I think whatever be the issue of Kerala or Gujarat or Kochi, the main thing is that as a minister he has to address the issues raised by Lalit Modi. So we are demanding a judicial probe into this issue," said Sreeramakrishnan, DYFI national president.
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