Local cricketers excited as a Pune team will mean wider opportunities

If all goes well, it will be time to celebrate for city cricket players. The city may get a team in the fourth season of the IPL on Sunday. The news has excited local players and officials alike.

The team could provide a platform for numerous players who are part of the Pune District Premier League (PDPL), the Maharashtra Cricket League or the board.

Raviraj Patil, the highest scorer of PDPL with 288 runs, was confident of making it to the fourth edition of the IPL.

Rohan Pate, owner of Parvati Peshwa and title sponsor of PDPL, said the news would be delightful. "This will help players who do not have a platform for their talent," he said.

The IPL has a few players from Maharashtra in various teams, including Harshad Khadiwale for Kolkata Knight Riders, Aditya Dole for Rajasthan Royals, Kedar Jadhav for Delhi Daredevils and Yogesh Takawale for Mumbai Indians.

But Maharashtra Cricket Association president Ajay Shirke maintains that till the bidding results are out nothing can be decided. "There is speculation about the Pune IPL team, but there is no confirmation. I will not comment about it till the whole thing is confirmed."