All-rounder Bharat Chipli to Lead Team Mangalore in KPL

18 August 2009

Twenty six year-old all-rounder Bharat Chipli, a veteran Karnataka Ranji player, and a member of Royal Challengers twenty-20 team, has been selected as the captain of the Mangalore team for Karnataka Premier League.
Chipli is not only a good batsman, but also a useful medium pacer. He has played 15 first class matches and scored 847 runs so far. He also has appeared in twenty-20 matches thrice.
The management is yet to name the team. It is learnt, that the name, 'Mangalore United' or 'Mangalore Tigers' might get the final nod. The name and logo of the team are expected to be released in the city on Thursday August 20. Charu Sharma, well known television cricket commentator, will take part in this programme. He will also inaugurate the tournament of Mangalore cricket teams the next day, at National Institute o Technology - Karnataka, Suratkal.
Mangalore team owner Moidin Bava informed that the 14 players to be finalized during the selection process would be trained by Team Mangalore itself. The process of selecting local talents has begun from Monday onwards and about 2,000 applications have been received from the aspirants. The process of issuing prescribed format for joining the team would be taken up at Nehru Maidan in the city from today, and the process will continue on Wednesday too. Out of the applicants, 50 best players would be hand-picked and on Friday and Saturday, four teams made from these players, will play one another at NIT-K ground, Suratkal. Out of these matches, 14 players would be selected, and the team of these 14 players would play a match with the 14 players, who were bought through the bid process at Bangalore. Those who excel in this match will get a place in the final team. Like reality shows, all the players of the team would be taken through the streets of the city in a procession after the final selection, Bawa explained.
Bawa also disclosed that there is a likelihood of picking a player from outside the state, who has presently settled in the city, for the local team and that the final team of 14 will have two local talents.
source daijiworld.com