The Kinrara Oval – Malaysia’s top cricket venue – was saved from closure on Friday after the government blocked an attempt to oust the game’s local governing body from the facility.
The Kinrara Oval – which was built in 2003 and has hosted ODIs as well as the Under-19 World Cup – sits on a plot of prime land west of Kuala Lumpur.
The Malaysian Cricket Association’s lease expired in October and the property developers who own the land ordered the association to vacate the premise.
AFP reported that after months of uncertainty, the venue’s future was secured after the country’s cabinet decided it should continue operating as a cricket stadium following talks with all parties involved, sports minister Syed Saddiq said.
“The Malaysian government is committed to saving the cricket ground,” Saddiq said on Twitter.
“Cabinet decided that saving the cricket ground is more important than commercial development.”
The International Cricket Council last year attempted to save the venue, saying the game in Malaysia was “flourishing”.
The Kinrara Oval has seen some iconic performances. It’s the venue where India batting icon Sachin Tendulkar scored a fine 141 against the West Indies in an ODI in September 2006.
It is also the venue where a young Virat Kohli led India to the Under19 World Cup title in 2008.
