Celebrity Cricket League: Bollywood & sport collide in Dubai

Denzil Pinto 15:45 30/01/2014
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  • Turning it on: Mumbai Heroes are led by Bollywood star Suniel Shetty.

    It’s not every day you see some of India’s top film and television stars playing cricket, but come this Saturday, some of them will swap camera for bat and ball at the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    CCL, now in its fourth edition and contested by eight teams, is already a success in India with television numbers reportedly higher than some ICC-sanctioned matches, due to the presence of many superstars in the team.

    It’s no surprise as Bollywood and cricket are India’s most popular loves, and this year’s edition was inaugurated by batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

    Played in India, the CCL will make a special stop to UAE, who are no strangers to hosting this competition.

    Last year’s two matches (Kerala Strikers v Bengal Tigers and Mumbai Heroes v Chennai Rhinos) in Dubai proved to be a success and there’s no reason why it can’t be on Saturday.

    The entertainment begins at 13.30 between Mumbai Heroes and Telugu Warriors, while Kerala Strikers (below) take on Veer Marathi in the second game of the day at 17.30.

    The match caters for everyone whether they enjoy cricket or not. Whether you’re a Bollywood follower or not, the presence of being at the stadium will be worthwhile with players taking it very seriously.

    The 2014 campaign is already one week old having begun on January 25, and the players were put through their paces all this week before their arrival in Dubai on Friday.

    Among the stars in action, will be Suniel Shetty, captain of Mumbai Heroes, and he cannot wait to play in Dubai.

    “The calibre of our batsmen will not restrict us to a small score,” said Shetty, who has a range of Bollywood superstars like Bobby Deol and Sohail Khan in his side.  “We have enjoyed good crowds in Dubai, and we look forward to be cheered by the home crowd in our home ground."

    Team-mate Rohit Roy, a famous serial drama actor, says the presence of some of the Bollywood and television stars playing cricket is a form of entertainment in itself for the audience.

    “Many actors will be here and I think the people who do come to Dubai for the matches will see a lot of entertainment on the cricket field. The good thing about T20 cricket is that anything can happen and it’s difficult to predict the winner.

    “I’m very excited to play here in Dubai and it’s a good way of meeting other people. I have enjoyed playing cricket since my school days and the tournament allows me to stay fit in a sport that I love.”

    Shetty’s opposite number, Telugu Warriors (below) captain, Dagubati Venkatesh is in confident mood ahead of the match.

    “We are playing with good teams, however, every time we have played in Dubai our home team has always shown us enormous support.”

    Tickets, split into four categories are available to purchase for the double header. Orange zone tickets are priced at Dh25, purple zone cost Dh75. Both of these tickets can be purchased at Tea Junction, Al Ibrahimi restaurant, Bombay Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Madina supermarket, Sind Punjab, Puranmal, Ravi restaurants, Chappan Bhog, Aryaas, Pak Gazi, Dosa Plaza, BBQ Tonight, Bikanervala, Sarvana Bhavan, Choithrams and Al Mansoor.

    Red zone premium tickets ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh3,000 can be bought at AURA Event Management office in Dubai.

    WHAT: Mumbai Heroes v Telugu Warriors and Kerala Strikers v Veer Marathi in Celebrity Cricket League (CCL)
    WHEN: Saturday, February 1, at Dubai International Stadium. Start times 13:30 and 17:30
    COST: Ticket prices range between Dh25 and Dh3,000
    Sport360 VERDICT: Whether you know the players or not, CCL is a unique competition that will offer plenty of entertainment
    CONTACT: www.ccl.in or www.facebook.com/AURAeventmanagement

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