KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) will be leaving the Kinrara Oval at the end of June.
In a statement, MCA president Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali said the association has fulfilled its obligation to pay the landowners, Perumahan Kinrara Berhad (PKB).
“We are pleased to announce that Malaysian Cricket has reached an amicable settlement with PKB.
“MCA is truly grateful to the Kinrara landowners for affording us this property for the past eighteen years and giving us the ability to bring it to an international standard,” he said.
Currently, Kinrara Oval is one of two One-Day International standard grounds in Southeast Asia, with the other being the Bayuemas Oval in Jenjarom, Selangor.
Iqbal added that the Oval will host two international tournaments for the last time in June, namely the 2022 International Cricket Council U19 Women’s Qualifier which will be held from June 1 to 10, and the Asian Cricket Council T20 Asia Cup Championship from June 15 to 25.
“The State Affiliates and Associate Members will be given the opportunity to put forward a team to play in a T10 Curtain Call Championship Masters on June 10 to 12.
“This championship match will be open to individuals 30 and above, while the rest of the cricket fraternity are invited to come support.
“This will be the final round of matches as we will vacate Kinrara Oval on June 30,” he added.
After leaving Kinrara, MCA will be utilising the Sime Darby Foundation-UKM oval at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor Turf Club and Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar.
“Moving forward, we are confident of finding a permanent ground to call our own.
“Thank you to each and everyone who has stood by us, believed in us and continues to believe in our intentions,” said Iqbal.
Previously, MCA had been ordered to vacate the Kinrara Oval in Puchong, after failing to settle RM1.8 million in assessment fees with PKB.
The arrears from unpaid assessment fees stemmed from a long-standing dispute on tariff rates and has caused the association to be embroiled in a recent court battle with PKB.
This led to the subsequent eviction of the national sporting body from its current home in Kinrara Oval. – The Vibes, May 31, 2022
