Now a cricket league for UP villages

A new initiative, Indian Gramin Cricket League (IGCL), is being launched to bring forth hidden talent in rural and remote areas and the organisers are hopeful that one day BCCI would recognise it.
"Our main objective to provide a suitable platform to hidden cricketing talent in villages and remote areas. For this we organise tournaments under IGCL in villages itself," organiser Anurag Bhadauria told PTI here.
The tournament structure is such that matches are organised in different Blocks of a district.
"From these teams 11 top performing players are selected and a district IGCL team is formed. So far teams of 32 districts have been formed, whose league will be inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at K D Singh Babu stadium tomorrow," he said.

The brain behind IGCL said that some bollywood actors are likely to attend the inaugural function.
On a question of recognition by BCCI to IGCL, which is being supported by the UP CM, Bhadauria said, "With our dedication and hardwork we will force the BCCI to recognise IGCL. This is just the beginning. Once we bring forth pure talent from villages then it will be recognised at every level."

"Today the question is that of providing a right platform. To put the energy of natural talent in the right direction. When this talent is channelised, it will create its own path," he added.

Bhadauria, who enjoys status of minister of state, said that IGCL has a long way to go.
"Of 75 districts in the state, teams have been formed in only 32 and 43 are yet to be created. When teams of all districts are formed we will create IGCL UP. Similar teams will be formed in other states, who will play against each other," he said.
He said that league has been started in several districts of West Bengal and Haryana.
Expressing disappointment on attitude of corporate houses towards IGCL Bhadauria said, "when I am organising it in Lucknow, corporate houses are lining up for sponsorship, but when we were organising it in villages no one came forward."

"I had been organising IGCL from my own resources. I am grateful to the CM that he not only appreciated our league, but also came forward to help. Atleast he understood the importance of the league. With his help we started the league during Sefai Mahotsava in Etawah last year," he said.