Coming soon on your TV: Indian Cricket Idol
Jul 27 2006
A talent hunt TV series will unearth,within [eight *] months,a budding cricketer worthy of being called a 'Star'
DNA
If you aspire to rub shoulders with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, you no longer have to go through the grind of domestic cricket. Welcome to cricket's version of Indian Idol. Much along the lines of the hugely popular television show, Cricket Star, a talent hunt programme will unearth, in the next [eight *] months, a 'Star'.
UK-based Investors In Cricket was given the green signal by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to run the reality series on television. A couple of firms,who had roped in Sunil Gavaskar and Steve Waugh to spruce up their offer, had also bid for the series.
Said Manoj Badale, chairman of the IIC,in town to finalise the broadcaster and sponsors for the show: "It took two and a half years to conceptualise the series. Our challenge is to infuse credibility without compromising on the entertainment aspect. It will be exciting to discover a Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or a Munaf Patel after the next [eight *] months".
IIC plans to announce details about the project [in November *] ,but those who are already thinking of stardom can visit www.cricketstar.tv
After the initial screening process, one would be called up for a regional screening test.
The tests,supervised by top coaches and cricketers, will select around 22 candidates for the Cricket Star Academy in [Mumbai *].Around the same time approximately [in mid Jan *], the series will be aired on television. The prospective winners will spend [eleven *] weeks [in Mumbai *] and will be thoroughly dissected by coaching professionals, top cricketers, technology and above all, the public, courtesy the TV. [ *]
The winner, to be declared [in March *], will get a contract to play for the Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
"As is the case with other reality shows, the visibility the other finalists will get will ensure that at the end of the day, it's a winners-all show," says Badale.
And the contest is open for the fairer sex too. Age-wise, the eligibility criteria is [To be declared *].
"Applicants beyond this age limit will be considered as wildcards, but are very much welcome to apply."informs Badale.
The IIC, in fact, is talking global alread.A similar series will soon run in the UK and Pakistan. "The target is to organise global finals in September 2008 in Dubai, the ICC headquarters. We are talking about an international cricket star," says Badale.
Won't such a series put domestic cricket in the backburner? Won't youngsters prefer the quicker route to realising their dreams,rather than sweat it out for their state? Badale tries his best to alienate those fears.
"We are not out to create cricketers who would play in the national team. We are there just to provide a support system, in a supplementary role. " Then he asks: "Do you really think that domestic cricket is throwing up the best talent?"
It would be interesting to watch the creation of a celebrity, who would be yet to wear India colours.
* - Amended subsequent to publication.
