Team Kochi wants to move base to Ahmedabad

Kochi Cricket Private Ltd has written to the IPL Governing Council requesting to consider moving the franchise’s home ground to Ahmedabad.

In a letter, the Kochi Cricket Pvt Ltd has pointed out a series of issues that they think are potential impediments to their growth.

Its major concern is the Kerala high court’s recent judgment quashing Kerala Cricket Association’s plea to build a new stadium over environment concerns.

“KCA’s inability to prepare a permanent venue and the question mark on the existing venue leaves us on a very shaky ground… If the stadium does not give a great IPL experience to the fans then the franchise would face a big financial loss and the IPL a loss of reputation,” the letter written to IPL COO Sundar Raman mentions.

Franchise partner Mukesh Patel says “Our aim is to have a permanent venue. Following the recent court order, it appears that the KCA cannot build a stadium of its own there. There seems to be a problem there.”

Apart from stadium other major benefit IPL team will get for moving base to Ahmedabad is tax benefits. Entertainment tax in Kerala is as high as 36%, which will be a major outflow from Kochi Teams revenue and would be a major financial loss to the franchise. There is no entertainment tax outflow for IPL Franchise in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.