XtraTime Web Desk: Iain Hume, the English footballer who played for ATK and Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League posted a picture of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi and said, “I was here for the 1st season of @indiansuperleague when they had 6-8 weeks to transform our field from a Cricket ground to a Football ground. They made great strides in doing so, but it was still some way off being an established field for top level football. The amount of time and money that has been spent since then, to get the pitch to the standard it is now for the U-17 @fifaworldcup and @indiansuperleague 4, it would be a travesty to tear it up for a one-off cricket match!”
He also admitted that India is a cricket loving nation but questioned why a football stadium will be converted into a cricket ground for just a one ODI match? As he said, “I understand the love of cricket in not just Kerala, but all of India, and I don’t want to disrespect anyone for that. But there’s a ground in Trivandrum that is Cricket specific, so why for the sake of one match, rip up a pitch that has taken years to get to the standard as one of the best in the country?”
Later he added, “Question….. Would they tear up Eden Gardens to stage a one-off football match?”