Sharjah: Bollywood matinee idol Salman Khan’s geography may have been off the mark as he repeatedly referred to Dubai while in Sharjah, but the thousands who had gathered on Friday for the opening day of the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) didn’t seem to care.
If they could breathe the same rarefied air as their Bodyguard hero, nothing else mattered, it seemed. And going by the upbeat mood, the boundaries among Asian expatriates blurred as they enjoyed a thrilling game of cricket led by celebrities at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
“I am so happy that CCL has come to Dubai … I hope the best team wins,” said Khan to thousands of cricket and cinema-crazy fans. While Khan didn’t play in the tournament, he stood there like a wall till the end of the game as a mark of support to all his boys.
The battle was on between Telugu Warriors, led by south Indian actor Venkatesh and Mumbai Heroes, captained by Bollywood’s Sunil Shetty. After winning the toss, the Telugu Warriors opted to bat and put a formidable 166 runs on the board. However, Shetty’s team put in a fierce fight. In what could be called a nail-biting finish, the game ended in tie. Even the ‘Man Of The Match’ award was shared by the two teams.
Television actor Varun Badola from Mumbai Heroes and Akhil from Telugu Warriors were declared the top players after they scored 60 runs for their teams and took important wickets.
“This time around I have cracked the whip. In the last season, I was a bit soft a captain, but that won’t do now. I want my boys to play their best,” said Shetty ahead of his game on Thursday.
The action was not limited to the pitch. Bollywood sirens Kangna Ranaut, Genelia D’Souza and Urvashi Sharma doubled up as cheerleaders. South sirens Charmi and Shriya did their bit to bolster the morale of their team too.
Meanwhile, pop icon Atif Aslam and Devi Sri Prasad got the show on the road by belting out their hit numbers in the opening ceremony. Though the acoustics of the expansive stadium didn’t lend itself to a concert, it was heartening to see Aslam stepping off the stage to mingle with his fans.
However, the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Khan, who rude a buggy, going around the grounds waving to his legions of fans during the interval.
“I love cricket and Salman Khan. I wish he played too,” said Dinesh Viakkam, an ardent cricket/Khan fan who had come to watch.
