Calling cricket buffs

Jagran Group's Channel 7 has jumped on the bandwagon of reality shows with a programme on cricket called Scorpio Speedster, to find India's fastest pace bowler.

"Besides being a cricket talent hunt, it's India's first and the only reality cricket show," says Piyush Jain, chief operating officer, Channel 7. While the show has been on air since October, the reality part began in the first week of December. The winner will be awarded a full season's training at the MRF Pace Foundation along with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

"We're looking at finding a complete bowler who can bowl, field and perform well even under pressure," says Ajay Jadeja, the cricket expert for the channel. While the fielding tests were done by Jonty Rhodes, former cricketer Wasim Akram tested the speed and endurance levels of the contenders.

Jain says, "Speedster is Channel 7's first foray into the reality genre but on Khas Khansama, our cookery show, chef Rajdeep Kapoor randomly picks up people at malls, asking them if he can cook at their house. He then prepares dishes with whatever ingredients are available in their homes."