Its president, Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali, said three cricket tournaments, the first beginning tomorrow, will mark the end of Malaysia’s storied cricket ground.
Iqbal said Kinrara Oval will play host to two international tournaments in June – the ICC U19 Women’s Qualifier 2022 from June 1-10 and the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup Championship from June 15-25.
He said a three-day T10 Curtain Call Championship Masters (above 30 years old) will be held for state affiliates and associate members from June 10.
Iqbal said MCA had reached an amicable settlement with the landowner, Perumahan Kinrara Bhd (PKB), and will fulfil its obligations to settle its outstanding dues with the company.
He did not specify the amount, but MCA has been in a dispute with PKB over the non-payment of more than RM1.8 million in assessment fees which the company had paid on its behalf for several years.
PKB had ordered MCA to vacate the more than 3ha site in Puchong to embark on a redevelopment project.
In March, the company auctioned off assets at Kinrara Oval after MCA failed to settle the arrears in assessment fees.
MCA occupied Kinrara Oval in 2003 and signed a 15-year lease agreement with PKB, a joint venture company between I&P Group Sdn Bhd, the Armed Forces Fund Board, and pilgrims’ fund Lembaga Tabung Haji.
It was granted a two-year extension on the lease in 2019 after the Cabinet decided that saving the cricket ground was more important than commercial development.
Iqbal said MCA was grateful to PKB for affording MCA the property for the past 18 years, giving them the ability to “work the ground and bring it to international standard”.
He noted that the Kinrara Oval was one of two grounds with one-day international (ODI) status in Southeast Asia, the other being the Bayuemas Oval in Pandamaran, Klang.
“Given the history and legacy tied to cricket at Kinrara Oval, sentiments are strong … and the cricket fraternity had hoped to stay on.
“Nonetheless, we bow out gracefully with gratitude, taking with us some of the best cricket memories.
“Nothing rings more true than the old adage ‘The only constant in life is change’, and we at MCA are ready to embrace change as we embark on new frontiers,” he said.
He said MCA was grateful to be able to utilise YSD-UKM Oval – the ground at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia – and the grounds at the Selangor Turf Club and at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, although their standard needed to be alleviated.
“We are confident of finding a permanent ground to call our own and we thank everyone who has stood by us, believed in us, and continues to believe in our intentions,” he said.