KLANG — Cricketing giants like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh did not rise to prominence overnight; their success was built through years of perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice.
In Malaysia, however, the sport often feels like an afterthought. The Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) currently lacks a ground to call its own, a critical barrier to fostering growth and sustainability at the grassroots level.
MCA president Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali is pinning his hopes on government intervention and corporate goodwill to address this pressing issue.
Speaking ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup at the Bayuemas Oval in Klang, Iqbal expressed his desire for Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to help broker a deal with Sime Darby, enabling MCA to secure a permanent cricket ground.
In 2022, MCA vacated the iconic Kinrara Oval in Puchong after a 15-year lease agreement with PKB came to an end. Since then, the association has been operating out of Bayuemas, which Sime Darby owns.
“Historically, we’ve never had our own ground. In the 1950s and 1960s, cricket was played at Dataran Merdeka. By the 1990s, arrangements were made between then KL Mayor Tan Sri Elyas Omar and Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, for us to move to Bukit Kiara.
“Again, thanks to Tunku Imran, we managed to secure a 15-year lease for the Kinrara Oval in 2003. However, that time passed quickly.
“I understand the commercial considerations, but as a sportsman and a representative of a national body, it’s hard to accept losing such an iconic ground. Kinrara Oval was our Sepang International Circuit. It was renowned by both the ICC and the ACC (Asian Cricket Council),” said Iqbal.
He highlighted Kinrara’s unique engineering, which ensured nearly all matches were completed despite cricket’s vulnerability to weather disruptions. “In all those years, we had to call off only one or two matches,” he added.
Iqbal is determined to avoid further relocations and hopes MCA can establish a permanent base, akin to other sports in Malaysia.
“We’ve never had a ground to call our own, unlike other sports. I’m hopeful that Hannah will negotiate with Sime Darby for either a direct purchase or a semi-purchase agreement. I remain prayerful for a positive outcome.”
Earlier, Hannah presented the national jerseys to the Malaysian girls’ Under-19 team and offered words of encouragement.
Malaysia begins its World Cup Group A campaign against Sri Lanka tomorrow, followed by matches against India on January 21 and the West Indies on January 23.
“MCA has significantly upgraded Bayuemas Oval, and I hope it will continue to host world-class events,” said Hannah.
“I also thank the ICC for choosing Malaysia to host the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
“Bayuemas is owned by Sime Darby, and we are discussing terms for an extended lease to ensure MCA’s investments can serve the sport in the long term.”
In addition to Bayuemas Oval, the Group B, C, and D matches will be held at Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Borneo Cricket Ground in Kuching, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Bangi. — January 18, 2025