KOCHI: Much to the disappointment of fans in the state, the management of Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) may shift the venue of the home matches from the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium next season.
The team management cited reasons including the heavy entertainment tax levied upon them and the lukewarm response from the public that has resulted in low ticket sales, behind this move.
The team management also made it clear that it will be difficult to play here, if the Corporation and the state govt were not extending much needed support them.
"We have not decided to go away from Kochi. We will think about it. We have made a request to the government on the high entertainment tax. It is difficult to sustain the franchise without support," Kochi Cricket Private Limited chairman Mukesh Patel told Express.
Meanwhile, Express has learnt that the franchise has decided, in principle, to reduce the ticket rates from the next match onwards.
However, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany told Express that the Corporation had already gave a 50 percent tax exemption for the KTK's home matches.
"We have extended maximum support to them," he added.