Kerala inmates begin new innings, to play SL prison officials in T20 game

Some inmates in Kerala will soon be seen in a new avatar – that of cricketers.

They will soon be part of a team that is all set to play against a Sri Lankan team, comprising only prison officials, in a T20 match to be held on January 20, at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Seven inmates will be selected from three central prisons – Poojappura, Viyyur and Kannur – and two open prisons – Nettukaltheri in Thiruvananthapuram and Cheemeni in Kasargod. These prisoners, along with 11 officials, will leave for a training camp on Tuesday, and from this group of 20, the final playing 11 will be selected.

A team of Sri Lankan officials is visiting the state between January 18 and 25, and they were the ones who suggested playing a match during their stay.

“The Sri Lankan officials are visiting the state to study how the justice system works here – they want to study the correctional methods we use and the kind of development we provide prisoners. When they suggested the cricket match, Director General of Prisons R Sreelekha said that inmates too should be part of the team,” Deputy Inspector General of Prisons and Correctional Services (South Zone) B Pradeep told TNM.

Pradeep added that they’ve also planned to take the visiting officials sight-seeing. “We’ve been told that the Sri Lankan officials have played cricket as a team before, but it’s a new experience for us,” he added.

The selection and the coaching camp has been conducted in association with the Kerala Cricket Association.

The Kerala Prisons Department is known for having innovative reforms and correctional measures for prison inmates, but this is the first time that inmates have been included in a cricket match.