Patna, Jan 20 (IANS): Kabaddi may not be popular like cricket, but it has attracted Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's AB Corp. The company will bid for players when the auction for the 4th edition of the Kabaddi Premier League (KPL) gets underway here next week, officials said.

"Amitabh Bachchan's AB Corp will be one of the franchisees bidding for players," Kumar Vijay, joint secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and secretary of the Bihar State Kabaddi Association, said Sunday.

Vijay said that the auction would take place during four-day 61st senior national men and women's kabaddi championship in Patna, starting Jan 21.

According to him, it would be the first time when kabaddi players would be up for auction on the lines of Indian Premier League (IPL).

Vijay said that along with AB Corp, companies like ONGC, Air India, Mahindra and Mahindra would bid for KPL players.

"In one way, it is a positive development for kabaddi and its players, who have been left neglected till date," Vijay said.

KPL started in 2011 and the schedule and venue for the fourth edition will be announced during the national championship here.

The eight teams of 12 players in each would compete for the trophy.