Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje and Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Aug 20: Charu Sharma, popular cricket commentator, announced that ‘Mangalore United’ would be the name for the city franchise of Karnataka Premier League (KPL) and unveiled its logo at a programme organized at the TMA Pai Convention Hall here on Thursday August 20.
Sharma said that cricket helps foster good relations and KPL will do the same in the Mangalore region.
“We were requested to select a good name from the public and of the names sent by 500 people we have selected ‘Mangalore United’, which means that we are all one and we live in trust and love”, said Moideen Bava, Mangalore franchise owner.
After getting the Mangalore team in the KPL bid, Fiza Group has started its process of selecting two local players as well a player of the sponsors’ choice, two days ago. At least 425 players from the city have applied but only 45 players will be shortlisted before the final choices are made.
The Mangalore United team has arranged for a reality show in Surathkal at the NITK Grounds on Friday August 21, to check the ability of these 45 players.
The players will be divided into four teams to participate in the reality show which will be on for three days and six matches will be conducted during this time. After the match on Sunday August 23, there will be a final from which 14 players will be selected.
These 14 members will play a 20-20 match with a team selected by KPL and then three players will be selected. Charu Sharma will head the selection panel.
Gopal B Hosur, inspector general of police (western range), and Santhosh Suvarna, partner, Mangalore United, were present.