As Celebrity Cricket League’s third season plays out in Dubai this Saturday at the Dubai International Stadium, tabloid! asked the league’s cheerleaders, Chitrangada Singh and Narghis Fakhri, why we should join them this weekend.
Their task is to root for their team Mumbai Heroes from the sidelines and boost their players’ morale in the CCL’s third season, mixing glamour and sport.
At 3pm, Kerala Strikers -- with Mohanlal and Indrajit as star players -- will play Bengal Tigers, with actors such as Jisshu and Indrasish leading the brigade.
At 7pm, Mumbai Heroes, captained by Suniel Shetty, will take on Chennai Rhinos, captained by Vishal.
If last year’s CCL match in Sharjah was any indication, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will be watching over the game studiously while sirens such as Bipasha Basu, Singh and Fakhri will dial up the star wattage.
Are you a fan of cricket?
Chitrangada Singh: I am a huge sports enthusiast and cricket is something of a national anthem in India. You can’t help but be hooked on a good game of cricket. The collective passion that it evokes is incredible.
Nargis Fakhri: To be honest, I am not familiar with the game. In the US where I grew up, baseball was a common sport. But now that I am getting the hang of it, I love it. It’s amazing to watch a country unite over a game of cricket. I think the US is the only country that misssed out on cricket.
Do you think players take CCL seriously?
Chitranganda Singh: Of course. I know for a fact that if a player doesn’t attend the practice session then he cannot play in a match. They are focussed and don’t take it lightly. Though there’s a lot of goodwill among stars from the Indian film industry, they turn serious when they reach the cricket grounds. In a recent match in Kochi, there were at least 70,000 fans rooting for Kerala Strikers. It was a surreal atmosphere but the game was real. I will never forget that experience.
Nargis Fakhri: There’s no question of slacking off. I have seen the players practice hard and they want to give it their best shot.
What was the memo given to you as a CCL cheerleader? Will we see short skirts?
Chitrangada Singh: I doubt whether you will see us in short skirts. But you will see us rooting for the boys. We will be on our feet, watching them closely.
Nargis Fakhri: No pom poms or short skirts for me. We want to have a good time and enjoy some good cricket.
Who are you rooting for this season?
Chitrangada Singh: Sonu Sood is a strong player, Varun [Badola] and Shabir Ahluwalia are players to watch out for.
Nargis Fakhri: I don’t believe in having favourites in life. Isn’t it all about team spirit?
