Karnataka T20 League - KPL

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had launched a Twenty20 tournament as part of its plans to expand the game in rural districts. The ten-side zonal league, 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. 

Bangalore will have 2 teams-Urban and Rural , Mysore, Belgaum, Shimoga, Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga were the other zones that were grabbed up, with Bellary, the mining capital of the state, and Raichur missing out from the list announced by KSCA president Srikantadatta Wadiyar.The bidding for the eight franchises of the inaugural Karnataka Premier League (KPL) has fetched a total of Rs 35 crore ($7.36 million approx).. 

• Brigade Enterprises, part of the Brigade Group, making the highest bid of Rs 7.20 crore ($1.51 million approx) for the ownership rights of the Bangalore Urban team. 
• Melmont Constructions Pvt Ltd, part of the Puravankara Group, netted the Bangalore Rural team with a winning bid of Rs 5.55 crore.  
• The Mangalore team went to Fiza Developers owned by politician Moideen Bava for Rs 4.23 crores 
• The Mysore team was bought by Kupendra Reddy Series Auto Company for Rs 3.25 crores 
• The Hubli-Dharwad team went to Shamanoor Shiva Shankarappa and Jagannnath for Rs 3.77 crores.
• The Gulbarga team was secured by Vivid Creations for 3.56 crores 
• Belgaum team by Subash Publishers and Sangeeth Electronics Company for Rs 3.81 crores. 
• The Shimoga team went to Jayaprakash Hedge for Rs 1.75 crores

With cricket in Karnataka being badly hit by a variety of reasons in the recent past, including the dearth of quality players and the inability to spot and nurture the few talented ones, moving forward is imperative as far as the Karnataka State Cricket Association is concerned. Without doubt, Karnataka selectors will be able to see some raw and promising talent in the KPL.  

Having witnessed the nail biting matches in the IPL the cricketers will know what is expected of them in these matches.  One is not sure if the crowds will flock to the stadium but if the matches show promise the efforts of the KSCA will bear fruit.

Former India and Karnataka players Kumble and Srinath have expressed concern over the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA)'s move to start a Karnataka Premier League (KPL) with private franchise ownership of eight teams  and feel it is not a positive development..

Kumble had said that KSCA could organize the event with annual grants from the BCCI and the franchise move is not good as it would allow back door entry into KSCA to people who are not passionate about cricket..

Srinath also voiced his concerns over introducing T20 format to youngsters while they should be trained to play the longer format and then T20 be introduced, making them T20 professionals is not the way forward.. 

The Indian board has now rejected a request from its Karnataka state association to allow players from outside that state to participate in the proposed Twenty20 Karnataka Premier League (KPL). It's understood that the BCCI's decision to restrict KPL to an intra-state event - potentially a big spoke in the league's wheel - is to prevent the possibility of such tournaments becoming potential rivals to its cash-rich IPL.

Whatever be the reason, if other state players are not allowed to play in KPL then each team has to play fringe players to pull out a playing XI.. The quality of cricket may not be that great.. If the quality is not great people will not come to watch cricket or watch on tv.. This would have adverse effects on sponsors and the league itself.. So the primary motive should be to ensure that the cricket is upto the mark and fair..