The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has unveiled an ambitious ₹30 crore infrastructure project that aims to reshape cricket development in northern Kerala. From April 2027, Palakkad will host the Palakkad Sports Hub, an integrated, multi-disciplinary high-performance complex with a strong emphasis on national-standard cricket facilities.
The project will come up on 21 acres of land owned by the Chathankulangara Bhagavathy Temple in Akathethara, functioning as a long-term strategic asset for cricket development in the Malabar region. The land has been secured under a 33-year lease agreement signed seven months ago, ensuring financial sustainability for both stakeholders.According to KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar, the temple management will receive an annual lease rent of ₹21.35 lakh along with a ₹10 lakh security deposit. The structured financial model is designed to generate recurring institutional revenue while avoiding land acquisition disputes, he said.
The Palakkad Sports Hub will feature two full-sized cricket grounds built in compliance with norms prescribed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Both grounds will be equipped with floodlights to facilitate day-night matches, professional training camps and televised domestic fixtures. The complex will also house a modern clubhouse, a swimming pool for athlete conditioning and recovery, and dedicated basketball and football courts.KCA officials said the design integrates competitive sport, sports science, recovery infrastructure and community participation within a single campus. The project will be executed in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed this year and the second by April next year.
Ministers M. B. Rajesh and V. N. Vasavan are scheduled to attend the inauguration ceremony.The KCA confirmed that 50% of the project cost will be funded by the BCCI, reflecting the national board’s push for decentralised infrastructure growth. The remaining investment will be mobilised by the association through structured funding mechanisms.
Currently, Kerala has 12 grounds that meet BCCI standards, which officials say is insufficient to conduct listed matches, inter-district tournaments, selection trials and sustained training programmes. The Palakkad facility is expected to address this imbalance and geographically rebalance cricket infrastructure, which has historically been concentrated in southern districts.Beyond domestic scheduling, the association aims to position Kerala as a preferred destination for visiting international teams, county clubs and junior national sides seeking training and competitive exposure.
With Malabar having produced several talented cricketers despite limited access to elite facilities, the Palakkad Sports Hub could mark a structural shift in the region’s cricketing ecosystem, blending grassroots development with high-performance infrastructure.
