Sun Estates repose faith in Jakati

PANAJI: Suraj Morajkar has co-sponsored a franchise, sponsored the Goa Premier League (GPL) T20 in the past yet what he will experience later this month will be quite unlike anything in the past.
Morajkar, managing director, Sun Estates Group, now has a team he can call his own in the GPL T20 starting Sunday, and with the backing of a Delhi franchise, will be hoping they can make heads turn every evening at the Academy ground in Porvorim.
“I’ve been a state cricketer myself and love the game. I always wanted a franchise for the last five years but did not know the right approach. Things fell in place this time around through a Delhi franchise,” said Morajkar.
“Though the primary focus of the group has been niche real estate development and hospitality ventures, for the youth of Goa we are bringing a cricket team with players of international repute in GPL to encourage the youth to play competitive cricket of international standard,” he said.
Morajkar’s Delhi franchise in the GPL will be named Sun Estates Warriors and have, fittingly, chosen Shadab Jakati as captain. He was the first cricketer they picked up at the auction.
“I think we have a better chance than anyone else,” said Shadab, who has won India’s top domestic T20 tournaments with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the past.
“Delhi players are quite good when it comes to T20 tournaments. I am looking forward to playing with them in Goa,” said Jakati, who will take to the tournament to silence his critics.
Sun Estates have time till Friday to complete their registration formalities with the Goa Cricket Association, and although no names were formally announced at the launch on Wednesday, indications are that pacer Amit Mishra and Deepak Hooda could be among them.
Meanwhile, the GCA have granted participating franchisees additional 48 hours to complete their player registration formalities. The franchisees were initially asked to provide a list of their players latest by Wednesday evening but the GCA, thanks to requests from six franchisees, decided it was best to wait for another two days.
“The franchisees have told us they are looking at some players who are (currently) playing the Ranji Trophy knockout tournament. It’s better to wait for a couple of days if that means signing established players,” explained GPL director Amresh Naik.
Karnataka, Assam, Delhi, Mumbai, Vidarbha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are all involved in the Ranji Trophy knockout with four teams going out on February 20.
Caculo Goans will take on the might of Jain Sports Academy (Jalgaon) in the opening match of GPLT20 on Sunday at 2pm.