Emerging Media launches Cricket Star T20 with RCA

Mumbai, Dec 7 (UNI) Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), in partnership with Emerging Media, has launched a nationwide search for the next generation of cricketing talent in the country.

Aptly nicknamed the ''Cricket Star T20'', in its new avatar the popular nationwide event has now evolved into a new format, designed specifically to provide the men in blue with the best cricketing talent available from the far flung reaches of the country.

The unique twelve-city hunt will be organised and conducted by Emerging Media, a TV media property development company, together with the RCA who will house and train the finalists of this talent hunt, in Jaipur, a release issued here today stated.

Inspired by the World Championship winning Men In Blue the 'Cricket Star T20' has at its very heart a dream - that somewhere in this nation of one billion people India's next cricketing gem is waiting to be discovered.

The partnership with RCA creates a life changing opportunity for the winner. The selected players would get an opportunity to train at the newly inaugurated state-of-the-art cricket academy in Rajasthan and also turn out for the Rajasthan Ranji team. The training of all the selected participants would be supervised by none other than former India coach Greg Chappell who is now an advisor to the RCA.

In addition to this unique opportunity, the winner will also get a one season contract with Leicestershire Cricket County Club in England.

Lalit Modi, President, RCA was quoted as saying in the release ''Nurturing global cricketing talent is the stated vision of the Rajasthan Cricket Association. We have always endeavoured to groom cricketers and cricketing talent across the length&breadth of the country. Through the 'Cricket Star T20' and recently established state-of-the-art cricket academy, we will continue with our initiatives to engage an entire nation through this search. I am certain we will unearth some truly talented gems and the academy will then help them hone their skills to be able to perform at the national and international level.'' 'Cricket Star T20' has roped in two former cricketers, who will shoulder the responsibility of selecting the best amateur cricketing talent in India. The former coach of the Indian cricket team Greg Chappell will then help polish the talents of the unearthed gems who will hopefully serve Indian cricket for many years to come.

The show aimed at providing complete family entertainment will have the talents of VJ - Cyrus Broacha adding his brand of wit into the cricketing mix. The show will be aired in eighteen episodes through the nine weeks. 'Cricket Star T20' will also be graced with the presence of cricketing legends past and the present, who will cheer on the contenders for the final Cricket Star T20 team.

The 12 city auditions will commence in the first week of February and run till the end of month. Out of the 12 cities, in each of the 8 regional centers, the selection rounds will be conducted for 2 days and the 4 mini cities will host a day of selection trials each.

The selection trials in the 12 cities will produce 50 top performers who will then be a part of the Cricket Star academy in Jaipur.

Boys (15+) from schools, colleges, and universities will be eligible to send in their entries. Out of auditioned final candidates that enter the world-class Cricket Star academy, a further elimination process will see the talented cricketers being trained and tested by invitees from professional T20 teams. The weak links will then slowly but steadily be evicted from the academy based on performance, till a final Cricket Star T20 XI is chosen, the release added.

UNI