Its KPL time now for Cricket Lovers !

We are back with Cricket for future youngsters !!!!!

Mangalore never had it so good in Cricket so far. The city now can bask in the glory of owning a team of its own under Mangalore United title which is emblazoned on the team colours that has been distributed to three teams that were formed out of a pool of 45 players chosen from the practice matches held so far.

It is settled now, dashing all rounder and former Ranji player Bharat Chipli will lead the Mangalore team in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL), according to the owner of the Mangalore team Mr. Mohideen Bawa here today.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr. Bawa said Mr. Chipli in his cricketing career has made 847 runs in 15 first class matches he has played. He had been in the Royal Challengers team of Karnataka which played in the Indian Premier League in three different matches that the state team played.

From now on it is the final leg of selection when the final 14 will be selected under the watchful eyes of the owner of the team Mr.Mohideen Bawa and Santhosh Suvarna the co owner.

Selection Process for Mangalore United :

All the matches will be held in Surathkal NITK grounds. The first match was inaugurated by Mr. Bawa when he faced a out swinger from Cricket commentator Mr. Charu Sharma. Mr. Bawa who has a number of cricketing years on his back could loft it to a boundary, but will his team be able to do the same when they get into the KPL league?

Charu Sharma is quite confident and finds the new crop of cricketers quite promising and could turn a game to their advantage if given a chance he told Mr. Bawa.

The Matches will be held from today to 24th of August according to Mr. Santhosh Suvarna. A three day reality show and a road show are also on the cards. It is the first time in the history of Mangalore that a whole range of cricketing extravaganza has been organized in such a grand manner.

Mr. Bawa who is the owner of the Fiza Group and Mr. Suvarna is the owner of the Global associates have together put in Rs. 4.23 crores into this venture. They get six seeded players from the KSCA and 6 others from bidding, two players could be chosen from Mangalore.

It is also the first time that a cricketing reality show has been organized.

Some more news from Other owners to add up :

Karnataka Ranji cricket captain and one-day discard Robin Uthappa today fetched highest bid of Rs 3.25 lakh in the auction held for State-level players for the Karnataka Premier League(KPL) T20 launched by the Karnataka State Cricket Association(KSCA) on the lines of successful Indian Premier League (IPL).

The opening tournament would be held from September 9 to 23 in Bangalore and Mysore. Eight teams had been formed to play in a league, launched by KSCA, for which, bids had been called to buy the teams last week.

While Uthappa and C B Karthik were bidded by Bangalore Brigaders, owned by Brigade Group Real Easters, A V Raghavendra Rao was purchased by Hubli-Dharwad Diamonds. However, Ranji players Rao and Karthik ended up with the lowerst bid of Rs 20,000.

As many as 48 Karnataka players went under the hammer for bidding by the eight franchisees of the tournament. KSCA had kept an upper limit of Rs seven lakh for six chosen players by each franchisee. Stuart Binny, a rebel player, who had played in Indian Cricket League(ICL), was picked by Gulbarga team (Bijapur Bulls) for Rs 3.2 lakh and B Akhil was taken on board by Bangalore Rural for Rs three lakh. Former test player Sunil Joshi pocketed Rs 2.05 lakh, thanks to Hubli-Dharwad team (Shamanur Davangere Diamonds).

Former India cricketer David Johnson went for a mere Rs 35,000 and would now play for Belgaum team (Belagavi Panthers). KSCA received a jolt when BCCI denied permission for other State players participating in the KPL.

Eight teams would vie for the top honours in the tournament which will be held from September 9 to 23. The tournament would be played in Bangalore and Mysore. Earlier in the month, closed bids were invited by Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for the teams.

The bidding was held in the backdrop of Board for Control of Cricket of India (BCCI) declining permission to bid for players from other states. KSCA had proposed to offer four players from other States for bidding and inclusion in each of the eight teams.