Beyond Cricket: Expert Says Sports Investors Must Pursue Passions for Long-term Success

Kochi, Kerala - Former international cricket umpire K.N. Raghavan has urged sports investors to explore various avenues beyond cricket, citing the global success of chess in Tamil Nadu as a model to be emulated.

Speaking at the Malayala Manorama Sampadyam Business Summit 2025 in Kochi, Raghavan emphasized that people should only invest in sports that they are passionate about, highlighting the importance of patience in achieving returns. He also stressed that everyone in the sports industry should be patient for profits to materialize.

Raghavan's call for a 'hands off' approach from the government is rooted in his experience with cricket. "It is best to keep the government away from sports," he said, arguing that governance must be maintained through separate institutions rather than interference from the state.

Instead of increased government involvement, Raghavan advocates for a strong policy framework that prioritizes a better system and reduced taxes whenever necessary. He emphasized that professional leagues can play a crucial role in promoting reinvestment in sports and one's future.

Raghavan's comments echoed those made by former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran, who criticized the "poor standard of governance" leading to lack of investments in sports. Prabhakaran called for good governance and transparency throughout the sport.

He attributed Kerala's inability to attract investment largely due to the public perception of sports administrators as corrupt due to a small percentage of corruption among them. Noting that these fringe elements have no interest in governing sports, he advocated for tax concessions and GST reductions to encourage more investments and participation in the sports sector.

Navas Meeran, chairman of Kerala Football Association (KFA), joined Prabhakaran and Raghavan on stage, calling for a collaborative approach to promote investment in sports.