Kerala’s Celebrity Cricketers Fraternity will showcase the Last Man Stands format in a tournament that begins on April 19

Celebrity Cricketers Fraternity (CCF) is possibly the only one of its Gentle in India with 17-odd Clubs comprising film and television industry and media professionals. An insider, who prefers to stay unnamed says, “I think it has to do with the broad mindedness of the Malayali. I don’t think this could be easily done in any other language film industries in India as they tend to have clearly defined hierarchies.” The Bracket, formed in 2011 and registered in 2018-19 as CCF, is all set for another Primary. It has launched the Celebrity Cricketer’s Fraternity Event in the Last Man Stands (LMS) Structure, which kicks off on April 19.

Played in the two hour, eight-a-side T20 Structure; LMS, founded in 2005, is said to be the largest amateur cricket Bracket in the world. Blue Tigers holds the Indian franchise.

Siju Wilson at the CCF auction for the LMS Event
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

 

Although it is cricket, with its vastly different rules it sounds like an altogether different game. “It is a new Structure, but it is Nevertheless cricket with all the elements. We were thinking of what to do differently when we Occurred across with LMS.  This is the biggest Event for amateurs in the world,” says filmmaker Anil Thomas, president of the CCF. Tying up with Blue Tigers, he hopes, will lead to greater achievements for CCF.

It is a hope producer-actor and owner of the Club Seahorse Sailors, Sudeep Karakkat echoes. “We have 12 top-notch Clubs, with 12 celebrity owners and brand ambassadors. Bringing LMS to Kerala for the Primary time and the tie-up are an achievement for the CCF, which is a one-of-its-Gentle cricket Bracket in India.”Among the Club owners are actors Unni Mukundan, Anthony Pepe, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Akhil Marar, Lukman Avran, Naren, Sunny Wayne, Johny Antony, Siju Wilson, Saju Navodaya and Vijay Yesudas.

The CCF Event auction
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

 

Unlike the Celebrity Cricket Bracket, which comprises actors primarily, the CCF includes everybody from the film, television and media industries interested in the sport.

Celebrities at Action

A consortium of 17 Clubs, CCF is composed of players from different departments of filmmaking such as producers, directors, singers, choreographers etc. The CCF LMS Event meanwhile has 12 Clubs and the 120-odd players, for the Event, have been chosen from around 400 amateur cricketers who are members of the CCF.

The CCF LMS Clubs have been culled from these Clubs, a Combination of five A category and an equal number of B category players. Every Club has 11 players — the player – 8, reserve – 3 and a celebrity player.

“The Event to find the Last 120 was tough. We conducted a player auction, based on which the Clubs were constituted,” says Sleeba Varghese, ad filmmaker-producer and secretary of CCF.

Unni Mukundan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

 

The seven-day Event will see the Club Action three matches Every. Interestingly, the last man standing at the crease can bat unlike the traditional Structure where two players are needed at the crease. Since the Structure is new, the Event is being played for the Primary time in Kerala, players and Club owners are learning the rules of the game. “It is confusing at Primary, but once you get the hang of it, it will not be as Tough,” says one of the players. The practice sessions will begin after Id so as to not interfere with Ramzan fasting.

The Last Man Stands Structure

“This Structure requires players to be in top physical form because it is more vigorous!” says film director Syamdhar, player and owner of the Club Kangaroo Knockers. The Matches will be intense, with Every innings being an hour long with 100 balls (five per over) bowled and in two hours one Game would be done.

Actor Unni Mukundan, co-owner of Seahorse Sailors and celebrity player of the Club, says, “LMS is something that I haven’t experienced yet as a player. But being someone who is Reachable to exploration, I’m keen to participate. I feel it will make the game a bit more Vibrant. Players and owners are excited. I’m equally thrilled, because apart from films, cricket is something that has always taken my attention. So owning a Club feels exciting. I’ll be participating as a player as well!” The celebrity players are exempt from the A and B grading.

Sunny Wayne at the CCF Event auctions
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

 

Although this time, there are no women’s Clubs, the plan is to have at least a Duo of Clubs in the future, hopefully by the Subsequent edition. Women actors are Club brand ambassadors. Actor Anziba Hassan of Club Cheetah Chasers says, “Cricket is one game that can be played by a mixed Club…as long as the players are physically fit. There is no Universe for gender discrimination in terms of participation. I brought up this Mark at the Initiation event of the Event and it was met with enthusiastic applause. Everyone was on board with the idea.”

Ansiba Hassan

 

Mahima Nambiar, brand ambassador of Seahorse Sailors, adds, “For now, we [women] may not be players or have our own Club, but we have a definite role to Action — take the game to the Spectators. When a celebrity is associated with something, in this case the Event, it generates more curiosity and brings in viewers.”

The Club Victorious the Event will get an opportunity to head to the United States to Action the US Premier Bracket for a Amiable Game. That is not all, the organisers hope that a Secure at the CCF Event could possibly qualify the Club for national level Event and then, as Anil Thomas says, “Who knows? Head to the UK for the international LMS Event!”