I would love to be proven wrong and see the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 20-20 cricket league be successful. The MPL concept sure had the potential, but unfortunately the format and packaging makes it seem like the MPL will not deliver.
For those who aren’t aware of what the MPL is,
Cotton King Maharashtra Premier League is an exact replica of the Indian Premier League T 20 tournament. Franchisees have been sold through private placement and players have being auctioned. The total spend on the players in MPL would range from Rs.19 to Rs. 48 lakhs.
“Cotton king Maharashtra Premier League 09- a MCA and Sakaal Initiative’’ will be played on T20 (League cum knock out) format with adherence to the international rules and standards. Each team will play with each team implying at least 7 games per side, followed by semi finals and finals. All the matches would be played on Deccan Gymkhana and PYC Hindu Gymkhana Grounds. The 8 franchisee teams participating in the tournament are named as Devgiri Emperors, Sinhagad Supremos, Sindhudurga Sailors, Torna Tigers, Panhala Panthers, Raigad Royals, Pratapgad Warriors and Shivneri Lions.
The MPL site says that they have copied the Indian Premier League (IPL), and they sure have in many respects. Even the website names are similar. The IPL site is http://www.iplt20.com/ while the MPL site is http://www.mplt20.com/. However unfortunately they have not copied some of the elements that are key to the success of the IPL.
- City Loyalties – The teams in the IPL are named after cities / states in India however the teams in the MPL are named after forts in Maharashtra. I think that’s a gargantuan mistake, as the most important reason why IPL teams have managed to create loyal and die hard followers, is their association with cities and states. People from Rajasthan actually support the Rajasthan Royals while those from Delhi support the Delhi Daredevils and so on. The MPL has teams like Devgiri Emperors, Sinhagad Supremos, Sindhudurga Sailors… These generate zero passion and following. It still isn’t too late, the MPL should urgently switch to names like Pune Panthers, Nagpur Supremos, Nashik Warriors…. Get some fire going… Get cities to compete against each other.
- Home Away Format – The IPL had a home-away format where all teams played each other in one home match and one away match. With the MPL, all matches are being played on two grounds in Pune. Even those grounds are within 200 metres of each other.
- Night Matches – I can understand that night matches might be difficult to pull off, considering that the MPL would not have IPL scale budgets. However MPL should definitely aspire to hold all matches at night. I for one will definitely be interested in watching night t20 matches, where a Pune team is pitted against any other city team.
- TV Coverage – Get the matches on TV. Even an obscure TV channel is fine, but live coverage is a must.
- Media Tieup with Sakal – The Sakal media house is driving the MPL. This is not essentially a bad thing. However Sakal’s presence has resulted in other newspapers giving bare minimum, if any coverage to the tournament. The MPL should have been an “MCA Initiatve” and a “MCA and Sakaal Initiative”. The MCA could have sold rights to Sakal but always referring to the MPL as a “MCA and Sakaal Initiative” seems to be a big turnoff for other media houses.
I believe that if the MPL can manage to fix these five issues, the tournament will pick up. If not all 5, atleast point one, about renaming the teams has to be addressed asap. As I said earlier, I would love to be proven wrong, but the MPL in it’s current form looks highly unlikely to get a mass following. The Lokmat T20 Championship, a supposedly competing tournament is scheduled to start in Nov 09. So the MPL also doesn’t have much time to get it’s act together.
There are many careers and crores riding on the MPL and it would be sad to see it flop.
maybe MPL is very interesting…….. are there top players on the MPL?
maybe MPL is very interesting…….. are there top players on the MPL?
MPL is excellent opportunity for young players to be groomed
check the day shown as wed 14 th May 2009 should have been thursday 14th may 2009
MPL is excellent opportunity for young players to be groomed
check the day shown as wed 14 th May 2009 should have been thursday 14th may 2009
my self ajay under 19 player of pune
I saw a couple of matches yesterday and today was very disappointed with the standards of the players. If given an opportunity would definitely prove to be much better than them in the field.
I definitely say mpl lacks standard players, i bet try me…….
hey dude i m agree with u……. totally…………. if given an oppotunity i will play much better than these player…..they don't have a gud standard at all
me 2
HI ,
I AM ROHIT JANGAM.
I WANT TO PLAY IN MPL FOR ANY TEAM .
GIVE ME ONE CHANCE.
I AM ALL ROUNDER PLAYER.
PLEASE SELECT ME.
THANK YOU
how to get sellected in MPL
HOW TO GET SELECTED IN MPL.IAM PLAYIN UNDER 19 FROM PUNE.
vishal ……abe cricketr hai to haisiyat mr reh jara…standrd ka mat bol ok……….balls jaise use hue hai bec of dat cant hit d ball hard ok
SIR ,
I AM ROHIT RANGRAO JANGAM FROM KOLHAPUR
SIR I HAVE RO PLAY IN MPL
NOW I AM PLAYING FOR SHAHUPURI ZIMKHANA KOLHAPUR.
I WILL GIVE MY BEST FOR TEAM.
MY CONTACT NO.: 9503624679
rjangam111@gmail.com
Hi..My Name is Rahul. I used to play with Deepak Shilamkar the captain of Shiveneri Lions. I am pretty much interested to play MPL matches. But dont know how to get in. Could anyone lead me to the entrance. Thanks in advance. You may contact me on – Rahul.c.gaikwad@gmail.com
HI,MYSELF YOGESH PANSARE I LOVES TO COMMENTATE OF CRICKET RECENTLY I HAD COMMENTATE IN PDPL IN “ENGLISH”. SO I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENTATE IN MPL. SO. I WANT A CHANCE TO PERFORM. SO, I WANT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO GET A CHANCE FOR COMMENTORY. MOB-9595057604
i had many questions but i can only see queries on this blog no solution..y
so i ll keep my doubts to myselp..
ramchandra kamble
kolhapur
mb-08655311567
playing for U19 INDIA (A.I.G.L.C.M)SRI LANKA tour 2009
i like play for MPL
Hi,
iam amol raigavhankar how to get selected in mpl.
please getting me one chane ,
i am right handed medium fast bowler and
good batting too.
hellow sir I am sajid hussain form mewat,(haryana).I am IPCL (indian premear carporate league ) player.I belive on my bowling after ALLAH.Iwant play in M.P.L.
please sir give me chance for trail.
my Email.korali.2009@rediffmail.com
sir Iam sajid hussain from haryana . I am ipcl(indian premear carporat league )
player .I belive on my bowling after allah.I want trail chance.
i want to join your cricket league.please call me or send email