Having not only survived but played the initial overs with gusto, the Celebrity Cricket League, involving filmstars, is now looking to graft further in the middle overs and consolidate itself.
With two teams roped in for this year, the League plans to get in two more in the next season from the proposed Punjabi, Marathi and Bhojpuri teams, Anuj Rai, Corporate Communications Manager, CCL, said.
There were four teams in the CCL last year: Mumbai Heroes, Telugu Warriors, Chennai Rhinos and Karnataka Bulldozers. Season-II of the League, which began on January 13, has included Kerala Strikers and Bengal Tigers.
The going is good on the financial front, too. According to sources, the international valuation company Repucom gave CCL a $110-million valuation last year, and it is set to go up three or four folds this season.
Though the two matches in Kochi were offered free for fans through complimentary passes, the Kerala franchisee is also doing brisk business, raking in Rs 8 crore to Rs 10 crore through sponsorship alone, sources said. The team could also make more money by selling television and Internet rights.
Kerala Strikers co-owner P.M. Shaji said they are still making the tabulations and the figure will be ready only by mid-February. But he added that they hope to touch Rs 200 crore in the next four to five years.
“Once we get a good profit we will contribute to the Chief minister’s relief fund and to AMMA, the forum of Malayalam movie artistes,” he said.
Shaji clarified that Kerala Strikers will not shift its matches from Kochi to places such as Dubai in the coming season. “We have good offers from the Dubai authorities but we will not let down our fans in Kerala,” he said.
He also said the Kerala Cricket Association is giving excellent support to the team.