Karnataka board launches Twenty20 league

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has launched a Twenty20 tournament as part of its plans to expand the game in rural districts. The ten-side zonal league, to be known as the Karnakata Premier League (KPL), will be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore between September 12 and 27.

It will feature eight teams backed by the KSCA and Frontiers Group India, with the state association to host an auction on August 8. The eight so-called franchises will pick from a minimum of five from a pool of 40 domestic players in Karnataka. The 40 cricketers will be divided among ten zonal teams: Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Dharwad, Raichur, Tumkur, Shimoga, Bellary, Gulbarga and Belgaum. The KSCA has fixed the minimum bid at Rs 20 lakhs.

Announcing the details, KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel said the board was looking to capitalise on the growing popularity of the format. "This will be a good opportunity for the young cricketers to showcase their talent as the tournament would have live TV coverage. First the tournament would be played in the city and later we have plans to take matches to the districts."

Patel said there was no need to seek the Indian board's approval because this was deemed a local tournament.

The announcement has been received with hesitation from Anil Kumble, a Bangalore resident, who feared that corporates would not ensure long-term financial prospects for players involved. "Why should we have something that is similar to the IPL? Do we have such a large pool of talented cricketers in Karnataka? If you say there are eight players from the State in each playing eleven then that is about 64 cricketers; do we have that many cricketers? The tournament should not become an opportunity for mediocrity," Kumble told the Hindu. "If it is about exposing our state cricketers to Twenty20 then the association can conduct a proper Twenty20 tournament instead of getting the corporates involved.

"But since the tournament has been launched and companies are involved then the organisers should make it doubly sure that corporates nurture their team players right through the year, give them jobs because unemployment is a factor with a lot of our cricketers."