Keenan: Retired hurt at 28 after 10 ODIs

JAMSHEDPUR: The greens have seen it all from swashbuckling Viv Richards of 1983 to a more composed M S Dhoni in 2006. Now, a nod from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on way to change it all by ignoring cricketing enthusiasts in the Steel City.
Obviously, the BCCI stamp to declare newly built stadium in Ranchi fit to host international matches does not rob the Keenan, which came up in 1939, of organizing ties that matter to the cricketing world but with the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) locking horns with Tata Steel for the last five years, things seem to be gloomy for the stadium set against the scenic Dalma hills.
Worse, the otherwise ambassador of hosting cricket in Jharkhand, Keenan is now looking for a facelift. If officials of the JSCA, which owns the 35,000-capacity international stadium in Ranchi, are to be believed things are not bright for the Keenan. "Keenan requires a lot of renovation. Until the custodians (Tata Steel) of the stadium restore life into it, international matches can hardly be played there," said JSCA secretary Rajesh Verma.
"Pillars have weakened. Chunks of concrete is falling in a steady drizzle from the ceiling of its Naoroji Pavilion. Galleries ringing the ground are unsafe to bear the load of spectators," said Verma.
Adding further weight to Verma's comment, JSCA vice-president B N Singh said: "BCCI has for long insisting on state associations to have its own stadiums. Thank god, in a short span of time, we have established our own stadium."
The very first stone for foundation of the Ranchi stadium began in June 2009 and work has been completed in a little over two years' time. "In a few states, the respective associations have two international stadiums. If the Keenan is repaired and seating capacity is enhanced probably we can host international matches in future but it is for the Keenan custodians to take care of the things there," said Singh.
The Jamshedpur stadium, named after Tata Steel's former GM John Lawrence Keenan, has hosted 10 international matches, first being the India-West Indies match in December 7, 1983, so far. Barring, one match (against South Africa in March 2000) India has never won a match here.