NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Newly-formed celebrity cricket team Punjab de Sher has challenged another Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) heavyweight Mumbai Heroes for an action-packed, high voltage match to be held on March 28, 2015 at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, Chandigarh. Mumbai Heroes has accepted the challenge and both teams clash on the eve of the World Cup final on Sunday.
Announcing this, Captain of Punjab De Sher Sonu Sood said the team is bubbling with enthusiasm and ready to take on Mumbai Heroes. Punjab de Sher is the latest team, adding luster to the illustrious firmament of CCL. Punjab de Sher consists of the best of the Punjabi entertainment industry, with the most popular and crowd pulling entertainers.
Film producer and entrepreneur Puneet Singh and singer-actor Navraj Hans have teamed up to make this ninth addition to the CCL possible. CCL consists of 8 teams which have some of the best known faces in Cinema and Music world. Punjab De Sher joins the likes of Mumbai Heroes, Chennai Rhinos, Karnataka Bulldozers, Bhojpuri Dabangs, Kerala Strikers, Telugu Warriors, Veer Marathis and Bengal Tigers.
At the launch, Puneet Singh said, “As a proud Punjabi, I am very happy today as I see my dream coming true in front of my eyes.” A renowned Bollywood Producer and entrepreneur who has produced the Oscar nominated movie ‘Jal’, Puneet Singh considers this team very close to his heart as it combines his twin passions of movies and Cricket.
Navraj Hans said, “The CCL has become hugely popular in the country but somehow, people in this part of the country were losing out on all this excitement. I attended a few CCL matches and the atmosphere, the crowd involvement and star appeal were out of this world. When Puneet Veerji and I teamed up and started building the team, we did it as our tribute and contribution to this great game. Cricket connects us all and brings the stars and fans closer. I have seen this in the CCL matches I have been to and this is what has inspired me to launch this platform in Punjab.”
Team Punjab De Sher comprises renowned singers, actors and world-renowned entertainers Sonu Sood (Captain), Icon Player Mika Singh, Jimmy Shergill, Binnu Dhillon, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Mukul Dev, Rahul Dev, Navraj Hans, Jazzy B, Harmeet Singh, Gulzar Chahal, Roshan Prince, Amrinder Gill, Angad Bedi and Yuvraj Hans.
With stalwarts Gurdas Mann and Hansraj Hans as mentors, and Deler Mehndi as Brand Ambassador, Mika Singh is the Icon player of Punjab De Sher which is all set to rock the CCL. Sood along with other team members including Gurpreet Ghuggi, Binnu Dhillon, the Hans brothers have been practicing in Chandigarh for the past couple of days. The team will continue to practice diligently till the match on March 28, 2015.
Mumbai Heroes owner Sohail Khan and Star player Suniel Shetty were in the City Beautiful to formally welcome Punjab De Sher into the league and accept the challenge match. Sohail Khan was full of goodwill for Punjab De Sher but could not resist giving a friendly warning too, “I love Punjab and Punjabi’s but we will not give an inch on the field. The fans can look forward to an exciting match because we are going to come well prepared to fight for victory’.
Suniel Shetty said, “We work for our children. CCL began with a charity match. Social causes have always been close to our heart. We are concerned about the problems the youth face in Punjab. We will certainly address social issues in Punjab and work for the youth of Punjab.”
Sohil Khan said, “These kinds of leagues encourage our children to be more fit and healthy, eat well and play sports. They want to emulate us (as actors take their shirts off in films), they desire to have good bodies and thus they have to eat and exercise well to get into shape.”
Daler Mehandi said he was confident that his team – Punjab De Sher would win and wished the Team India all the very best for the ongoing World Cup.
Punjab De Sher Team owner Puneet Singh said he wanted the CCL to have a North Indian chapter. He got in talks with Suniel Shetty and Sohail Khan who extended their unstinted support and thus he started getting the team together.
Bobby Deol is the caption of the Mumbai Heroes, which features other heavyweights from Bollywood and mainstream television. The contest on March 28 promises to be a spine-tingling encounter as Mumbai Heroes have some of the best players in the league and Punjab De Sher has players who have been practicing hard for the match. Suniel Shetty, the tough man with the soft interior was all smiles as he wished the Punjab De Sher’s luck, “We are in absolute form and we will give Punjab De Sher a very tough time. They had better watch out.”
Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) is an amalgamation of cricket, entertainment and high voltage glamour phenomenon that has taken India by storm. Established in 2011, CCL rivals IPL in popularity and consists of nine teams.
