Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala cricket team, which made history by entering the Ranji Trophy final for the first time, will be accorded a grand welcome by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). The team is returning on a chartered private flight arranged by the association.

KCA president Jayesh George and secretary Vinod S Kumar reached Nagpur to accompany the team on its return journey. The players will arrive at 9.30 pm on Monday aboard an Embraer jet, where they will be received by KCA officials and members. The team will then head to the KCA headquarters with the trophy for a special reception.

Earlier, the KCA had flown its Under-14 and Under-16 teams to Nagpur to witness the final match, a move that earned widespread appreciation at the national level. The Kerala team will be accommodated at Hotel Hyatt.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will attend the felicitation ceremony at the hotel at 6 pm on Tuesday as the chief guest. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman and Ministers K Rajan, P Prasad and P Rajeev along with MLAs and other prominent personalities, will also take part in the event.