When cricket follows the Rakhi Sawant route
MANGALORE: It had to happen sooner or later.
When Rakhi Sawant has chosen her beau on reality TV, could cricket have been far behind? Fizaa Developers, which bought the Mangalore team of Karnataka Premier League, has partnered with V4 Media, a local cable channel, to handpick local talent through a reality show.
According to the modalities worked out, over 11 to 16 talented players from Suratkal and Mangalore will be shortlisted through the show which will be telecast live on V4.
This team will take on the official Mangalore team owned by Fizaa Developers. The official team will have players from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts.
Three to four players in the local team displaying an allround performance will find a berth in the official Mangalore team, B A Moideen Bava of Fizaa Developers informed.
Recollecting his playing days with a tinge of nostalgia, Congress leader Bava said he was a member of Suratkal Paradise Club and had played under-arm cricket for 15 years.
There was a lot of talent but despite their best efforts, they never got selected for Ranji Trophy teams. “Thus, it was the burning desire to see that local talent shone at state and international levels that prompted me to bid for Mangalore team at a whopping price of Rs 4.23 crore,’’ he said.
Dakshina Kanandigas have carved a niche in almost all sectors except cricket. There is not even a proper cricket stadium in the district, he said. He urged the CM and Union Minister for Sports to build an exclusive cricket stadium in the district.
A match between the local and the official team will be played in September before the KPL seasons kicks off, Bava said.
