Legends return as ‘international’ cricket finds its way back to Goa

At the press conference for the inaugural World Legends Pro T20 League in Panaji on Sunday. (L-R): Naman Ojha (Rajasthan Lions), Shikhar Dhawan (Dubai Royals), Harbhajan Singh (Delhi Warriors), Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Mahesh Bhupathi (CEO, SG Spor

PANAJI
With the coming of the inaugural season of the World Legends Pro T20 League to the Goan shores at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium, Verna, from January 26 to February 4, a lot of excitement has been generated in a State which has not witnessed a completed international cricket match for close to 19 years. Not since the February 14, 2007 ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Margao that the home team won.
But with the new league, two of the players who featured in the match – Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka) and Harbhajan Singh (India) – will be seen taking to the cricket field, while a third, Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka), will be taking up commentary duties.
At the press conference at a starred property in the outskirts of Panaji on Sunday, Mahesh Bhupathi, CEO of SG Sports and Entertainment (SGSE), who brought the league to the State, in reply to a question raised by The Goan, recognised that the State has been missing qualitative international cricket action for a very long time. He also emphasised that he visualised that Goa was a model state to sustain a league and hoped to keep the event here for the next decade.
“When we were conceptualising the League, I think that was one of the main goals for us,” Bhupathi admitted. “You know watching international players, India players across the major metros or the tier, bigger cities that have a big cricket culture was not something we want to go to. Because they were already spoiled in watching either IPL or India playing,” the tennis legend added.
“We wanted to make a destination where we could keep the event there for a long time and kind of take world-class cricket to people who have not seen it before and that is why Goa was the right choice because it is a destination people love to visit in any case and it has that sex appeal to it. So, for us, the hardest thing is for a property like this to get off the ground and have a successful first year. I think once we finish that we can get into cruise control,” Bhupathi hoped.
Meanwhile, Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, and P&S), stated that Goa ought to be looked at as a destination beyond beaches, and that Sports Tourism is important for the State. “It is important to put all sports in one frame and there cannot be a better destination than Goa. Today, as we are talking of the World Legends Pro T20 League, we all know that cricket is like a religion as far as India is concerned. It is a sport where all faiths come together and play this game,” Khaunte stated.
He further mentioned that cricket is in our blood, and all the players sitting alongside him we have enjoyed seeing them play T20 cricket.
Former India off-break bowler Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, expressed delight to be back in Goa.
“Goa is a great place to be. Of course, cricket culture is not as big as football culture here. But all I can say is if you play cricket, you will have joy,” the wily Turbanator remarked.
“I am really excited about getting out there and playing against the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Carlos Brathwaite and many other players. It is a kind of opportunity for us to catch up and of course, the game gets really competitive when we get on the field,” Harbhajan said.
Meanwhile, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson revealed that it is amazing to be here and celebrate the game he dearly loves with so many cricketers who have made their mark all over the world.
“I thought when I played my last game professionally with CSK, I thought my cricketing days were done. But opportunities like these, we can come back and play the game we love, show a little bit of our skills that hopefully is still there and relevant,” Watto, as he is fondly known, matter-of-factly stated.