Kumble will be the cynosure in KSCA tourney

Indian spin ace Anil Kumble, who is returning to full-fledged competitive cricket after a nine-month injury layoff, will be the star attraction in the Karnataka State Cricket Association Diamond Jubilee All India Invitation Tournament for the Coromandel Trophy to be held in Bangalore and Mysore from tomorrow.

Kumble, who is hoping to return for India's tour of South Africa in October, is leading the KSCA XI in the tournament, which would go on till August 15 with 14 teams taking part.

Besides KSCA XI, which also has in its ranks Test discards Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Joshi, the other teams to be seen in action are: India Pistons, MRF, Hyderabad, Roofit (Mumbai), India Cements, Kerala, KSCA Colts, Andhra, Indian Airlines, ONGC, NCA, BPL and Chemplast.

KSCA officials told reporters last night the winner would take home Rs one lakh and the runner-up Rs 50,000.

The tournament is expected to give Kumble a clear idea on the current status of his fitness. He had appeared for his alma mater club, Young Cricketers, earlier this month in a third division league tie in Bangalore, taking three for 49. It was his first game after withdrawing midway through a one-day series in Sharjah in October last and after undergoing shoulder surgery in Johannesburg in January.

The 30-year-old leg-spinner has taken 276 wickets from 61 Tests.