GPL scene set for perfect yorker

PANJIM, DEC 23
Christmas is just around and so is the second edition of Goa Premier League, with all roads leading to the academy ground, Alto Porvorim for the first match today between Dempo and Machwac at 9.30 a.m.
Machwac, though a new franchisee, are competant enough as they have the likes of Saurabh Bandekar in their kitty. The Goan all-rounder who was out-of-form last year in GPL will surely show his capability with Dempo, who showed less interest in him this time around.
On the other hand,  Dempo look more compact with IPL 1 star Swapnil Asnodkar handling the affair on the ground. Keenan Vaz, Harshad Gadekar, Shailesh Miskin will be the players to watch for Dempos.
The afternoon match will be a close contest but in T20 it’s said, “Only fools predict the result.” Shadab Jakati the star of Chennai Super Kings will be the player Salgaocar can depend upon. The hard-working all-rounder is indeed a treat to watch when he gets going.
Al Fatah who are sponsored by PVG Group will surely not gift anything on the platter to Salgaocar.
Sahil Dhuri, Ninad Pawaskar and Rahul Keni are the key players for Al Fatah. It’s good news that two outstation players were rejected by all the franchaisees unanimously as they were trying to trade their place in different teams by virtue of raised amounts, but the Goa Cricket Association failed to take action on one of my complaints regarding a player from Mumbai doing the same last year.
A new scenario will be the entry tickets. It needs to be seen if the cricket fans will indeed put their hands into their pockets to shell out cash to watch cricket.
The GPL this year will surely be a grand success as the franchisees are chipping in more publicity than the parent association. Also the talk about entry fee being more than the cash prize is doing the rounds among cricket lovers.
The academy’s ground is spectacular and well maintained. It will be fun to those people who actually make it through.
(Sudhin Kamat is a former Goa’s Ranji Trophy player).