Actor, producer and director Sohail Khan gives us the inside track on the Celebrity Cricket League heading to Sharjah in the new year

SOHAIL KHAN IS the proud owner of a cricketing team and he has high hopes from his players. Called the Mumbai Heroes, Sohail’s team is a group of ‘good-looking’ boys from Bollywood who are looking to make their mark in the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL).

In an interview with City Times, Sohail shared his thoughts on actors becoming cricketers and how it’s in the spirit of good sportsmanship and entertainment.

How did the Mumbai Heroes team come together?

It took us less than 48 hours to get a team together because a lot of my friends are cricket enthusiasts. I sent out a message asking them if they would want to be a part of a professional team. All of them replied back with a positive response. We are having fun with the things are moving forward.

Is there any selection criteria for actors willing to play as cricketers?

There is a process. In the first season, we didn’t have one because it was very new and we didn’t know the seriousness of the cricket. We thought it was going to be fun-exhibition matches but the first game of the tournament was all about serious cricket. From there on, we decided to start training and put in place a selection system. We have tried to keep a good balance between celebrities and good cricketers. All of them are doing well and most of them will have a more professional approach.

Are you enjoying your role of a team owner?

Undoubtedly, it’s a lot of fun but it is getting more responsible and the league is also growing in size. Last year we had four teams, this year we’ve got six teams and next year we are going to have eight teams and then we are going to end with ten teams. We are going to introduce the Marathi and Punjabi team next year. Then there will be a Bhojpuri and a Gujarati team. We plan to cover all the film industries of India and it is a great platform for bringing together directors and producers.

What is the message behind having celebrities play cricket?

It’s all about sharing the space together. As we said, there is no barrier and all film industries can be a part of this competitive sport. It’s great to see them unite and play cricket in a sporting spirit. Its great fun and we have a good laugh in the after parties regarding the experiences of the game. We are not cricketers. We are just actors training to play good cricket. Getting everyone together is good fun.

Can fans expect Salman Khan to play a match in this season?

Unfortunately not. His filming schedule and surgery last year have restricted him from playing but he may play in the next season of CCL. He is the icon player and ambassador of our team.

City Times attended the CCL curtain raiser in Hyderabad bringing exclusive pictures from the star-studded red carpet

The second season of the famed Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) promises to be more competitive, more glamorous and more action packed than ever. The ‘good-looking’ boys from Mumbai will be in Sharjah for the season’s first match on January 13 as they join a host of celebrities for some action-packed cricketing.

Celebs from tinsel town have left no stone unturned in promoting the event as the who’s who of Bollywood and the South-Indian film industry descended on Hyderabad for the show’s curtain raiser on Monday.

From Salman Khan to Sunil Shetty and Ritesh Deshmukh, stars from Bollywood joined icons from Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Bengali film industry for the official unveiling of the teams. Massive hoardings and posters welcomed actors to the venue as the season goes international for the first time this year.

Built on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the celebrity-version offers a unique twist as it is open only to film actors.

This year will see the actors play their first international match as the Mumbai Heroes announced Sharjah as their home city for the matches. Cricket fans will be treated to a dose of entertainment when the Mumbai Heroes take on the Chennai Rhinos.

Cheering for the Mumbai Heroes will be brand ambassadors Kangana Ranaut, Sonakshi Sinha and Genelia D’Souza.

Bookings for the Sharjah matches have already hit a high-note as fans look to avoid disappointment by snapping tickets well ahead of the games.