text: Vivek Venugopal, one of the promoters of the Kochi IPL team, visited the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi on Thursday, the franchisee's home ground, and told the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) to improve the condition and facilities at the stadium.
  He also asked for the stadium to be handed over to the IPL management before February 28 so that a few matches in the next season could be played in Kochi.
  "We are confident that the KCA would rise to the occasion and it will be possible to play a few IPL matches in Kochi in the next season. We have given a list of works to be done in the stadium to upgrade it to IPL's standard," said Venugopal, who came to the venue with IPL CEO Sunder Raman.
  Venugopal also said the KCA had been instructed to improve security facilities. KCA secretary TC Mathew said that renovation work of the stadium and flood light system would commence immediately.
  "Discussions are being held with the Kerala government and Kochi corporation on the rate of entertainment tax to be charged for the matches," Mathew said.