Mega Cultural event is set to take place tonight right in the middle of the ground where some famous matches had been played in the century gone by
For the first time in several decades, the once famous PS School cricket ground on RK Mutt Road will host a mega all night cultural event as part of the Maha Sivarathri celebrations of Kapaleeswarar temple. The ground that had provided a platform for upcoming players to showcase their cricketing skills has now been converted into one where several thousands of people will be seated in the middle of this huge ground to watch artistes perform from 6pm this evening through till 6am on Wednesday morning. With the HR & CE department focused on using this ground for non cricketing purposes, this may be the final nail in the coffin for cricketing activities at the place where many top cricketers performed with glory in the century goneby.
In September 2021, Kapaleeswarar temple took back possession of the PS School Ground on RK Mutt Road. Some famous league matches had been played on that ground for well over 8 decades. PS School had taken over the ground on lease in 1928 and TNCA League matches were played on this ground till just under a decade ago when the TNCA league matches came to a halt following the ongoing dispute between the school management and the temple over the payment of rental arrears. Outside of the league matches, there were school matches and some memorable old v new club matches played at the PS school ground including one in 1979 between BRC Past and Present teams with legendary S Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html) featuring in that match. State cricketer from the 70s R Prabhakar used to regularly hit the ball on to the RK Mutt Road. It was a delight to watch a young TA Sekar bowl at this ground from his long run up.
TNCA's letter to Kapali Temple
Once the temple took possession, this writer had initiated for the TNCA to hold matches once again at the ground and after a letter from the TNCA to the temple, approval had been got for the league matches to be held over the weekend. However, no further progress had been made in the last quarter of 2021 when league matches are not usually held in the city due to the monsoon rains.
On Tuesday morning, the erstwhile PS School ground now renamed as Kapaleeswarar Karpagambal play ground was all set for a mega cultural event with a big stage set right in the middle of the ground. Thousands of chairs have been placed in the ground. The Eastern Pavilion that had been used for the lower division matches now wears a dilapidated look.
The cement pitch at the North end that had been used for the net practice sessions still remains but it will now take a lot of effort now to relay the center pitch after such a mega event where several thousands of people are expected to take part in the all night cultural programme organised by the Kapali temple as part of the Sivarathri celebrations.
With HR & CE keen on gaining publicity through mega religious events, league cricket at the PS ground may be the last thing on their mind. The HR & CE minister Sekar Babu is also keen that the huge space be used for public events including sports as against being handed exclusively to one association for league matches.
We may have seen the last of league cricket at this once famous cricket ground in the heart of Mylapore.