Press Trust Of India / Chennai/ Bangalore Aug 15, 2009, 00:13 IST
Robin Uthappa received the highest bid, of Rs 3.25 lakh from Bangalore Urban team (Bangalore Brigadiers) in the auction for next month’s Karnataka Premier League Twenty20 tournament, on the lines of IPL, here today.
As many as 48 players, described as cream of cricket talent in Karnataka, went under the hammer as the eight franchisees of the September 9-23 event to be staged here and in Mysore, participated in the bidding process. The organisers Karnataka State Cricket Association had kept an upper limit of Rs 7 lakh for six chosen players by each franchisee.
Stuart Binny was picked by Gulbarga team (Bijapur Bulls) for Rs 3.2 lakh, B Akhil was got on board by Bangalore Rural for Rs 3 lakh, while veteran Sunil Joshi pocketed Rs 2.05 lakh thanks to Hubli-Dharwad team (Shamanur Davangere Diamonds). Former India cricketer David Johnson went for a mere Rs 35,000 and would now play for Belgaum team (Belagavi Panthers).
KPL has lost some of its sheen after the Board of Control for Cricket in India denied participation of out of station (out of state) players in KPL, making it only a state affair. KPL promoters were hoping to fill three slots in each team with outstation players and in fact, were looking to rope in some big names of Indian cricket, at least for a couple of matches, to draw in the crowds.
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