Mangaluru set for MPL second edition - Dec 2015

Mangaluru set for MPL second edition - Dec 2015

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 3, 2015 :  Mangalore Premier League (MPL) 2.0 raised its ’logo’  for Kudla at a high profile launch ceremony held at partner mall of the event - Forum Fiza Mall on August 2 evening.

With MPL  second edition to be bowled over at NMPT ground at Panambur in December 2015, the logo launch ceremony also saw the organizers Karnataka Regional Cricket Academy launch the theme song titled Amaco MPL T20 Mangalore Premier League. 

 

 

Revived  after  five years, the last edition being in 2010, the event will see 12 teams from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi vie for honours. Interestingly, minister for sports, youth empowerment and fisheries K Abhayachandra Jain, who did the above honours with city based MLAs J R Lobo and B A Mohiuddin Bawa, also is an owner of one of the 12 teams - Bedra Bulls. His ministerial colleague U T Khader is the owner of Team United, Ullal.

The logo launch event saw the organisers hand out MPL T-Shirts to all the dignitaries who took part. The organisers also felicitated cricketers from Mangaluru zone of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) who have played in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) including Nishith Raj, Ritesh Bhatkal, Sinan Abdul Khader, Nihal Ullal, Darshan Machaiah, Bharath Dhuri, Nithin Mulki and Mashooq Hussain. The zone consists of DK, Udupi and Kodagu districts.

Both Nihal and Sinan were equivocal in their opinion that MPL will provide the much needed boost to local cricket who can use this event as a perfect launch pad to showcase their wares at the KPL,and also possibly in the cash rich Indian Premier League. Sinan said the league will also spurt the ambition of local cricketers to make the natural progression to KPL and thereafter to IPL and one day also possible wear the Indian colours at the Test, ODI and T20 level.

Jain, who comes from a family that has a sporting lineage and alluded to it as his reason for owning a team, said while it is heartening to note that a dozen teams that will square off for the title, expressed concern that there is unbalanced representation of the teams.

There are four teams from Moodbidri.  MPL has its task cut out in enthusing entrepreneurs from Sullia, Belthangady, and other parts of Udupi and Kodagu.