Date:05/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/05/stories/2008030560512400.htm

Sport - Cricket

StarTwenty20 launched

Mumbai: India Premier League’s Jaipur franchise, Emerging Media, has appointed Greg Chappell and Ian Fraser, key coaching staff members of the Indian cricket team not long ago, to run the Reebok Cricket StarTwenty20 programme and determine India’s Twenty20 cricketer.

Chappell will oversee the selection trials on the basis of a format created by Fraser. After a nation-wide talent scouting process in the eight IPL regions, 24 trainees will be put through a training programme to find a Twenty20 star at the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s academy in Jaipur.

According to Fraser Castellino, CEO, Emerging Media, about 8,000 registrations have come from 500 cities and towns in India.

“This year’s Twenty20 star will be included in the Rajasthan Royals Twenty20 team for the 2009 IPL series. A player from last year’s programme, Dinesh Salunkhe, will be included in this year’s team, but it’s up to the team management to take a call on whether to field him or not,” said Mr. Catellino.

Trials from March 5

Chappell said the format that was applied to choose the trainees for the Rajasthan Cricket Association academy will be followed for the selection trials from March 5.

“Cricket is going through a very interesting and exciting phase with the IPL coming into being. So there is tremendous potential in the Cricket StarTwenty20 programme to feed the changing environment in cricket. This is all part of player development and there’s no exact science to produce a perfect player.

“For Twenty20, the idea will be to get a player who can express his talents, be an athlete, a deep thinker and have a good understanding of the game and situations. It will be a challenge,” said Chappell.

Long-term commitment

Mr. Vishnu Bhagat, Executive Director Finance & Operations, Reebok India, said: “We would like to have a long-term commitment with Emerging Media. In fact we are the sponsor of the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy teams and around 60 cricketers individually, including Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma.

“We would be the apparel sponsor for a few franchise teams of the IPL.” — Special Correspondent