Thiruvananthapuram: One sporting superstar arrived in a helicopter, watched cricket, visited a grave, and went sightseeing for a proposed stadium, and the other has so far arrived only in announcements, promises, and government files, and now an investigation into the episode has been announced by Chief Minister V.D.Satheesan.
That, in a nutshell, is Kerala’s curious tale of Chris Gayle versus Lionel Messi.
Gayle, the Universe Boss, landed in the state capital on Saturday, watched two Kerala Premier League matches and was in Puthuppally, Kottayam, the following day.
His visit was coordinated by Congress MLA Chandy Oommen, son of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
After arriving by helicopter, Gayle first visited Oommen Chandy’s tomb, before attending a meeting at a local school and being driven around by Chandy to possible sites for an international cricket stadium, proposed under the PPP model, and the brainchild of the Congress lawmaker.
Messi, meanwhile, was supposed to do something even bigger: bring Argentina to Kerala.
The announcement first raised hopes in 2024.
When the Argentine superstar did not arrive, 2025 became the new schedule.
Then came 2026.
Kerala waited, football fans waited, and assurances kept coming.
Messi, however, remained firmly elsewhere.
Gayle, rather inconveniently for those selling the Messi dream, actually turned up.
The political after-match analysis has naturally begun on social media.
Left-leaning handles have been having fun over what they describe as the shortcomings in the organisation of Gayle’s visit.
Congress handles, equally enthusiastic, have found their own talking point: why discuss the choreography of Gayle’s visit when Messi never even made it to the stage?
There is another small detail that makes the comparison rather interesting.
Gayle’s visit came under the aegis of the Oommen Chandy Foundation and did not draw money from the already strained state exchequer.
The proposed Messi event, on the other hand, involved expenditure from the public purse and has now become the subject of a wider financial and administrative probe.
On Monday, Chief Minister Satheesan recommended a comprehensive investigation into the Messi project, including its financial transactions, agreements, sponsor selection, government approvals, stadium handover and foreign visits undertaken in connection with the proposed event.
So Kerala has managed an unusual double header: the cricketer came without a government-funded spectacle, while the footballer never came despite one.
Gayle left behind photographs, matches, and a stadium proposal.
Messi left behind promises, questions, and now a probe.
For once, the Universe Boss may have won a match he never knew he was playing.
(IANS)
