Celebrity Cricket League is the brainchild of shrewd Telugu businessmen Vishnu Vardhan Induri of Local TV and Tirumal Reddy from advertising background. In the first season of CCL, Manchu Vishnu was seen all over the new event, having bought the franchise for Telugu Wiarriors.
However, on the eve of the second season of CCL, which promises to be a bigger and better event, Vishnu sold off his franchise to a construction company. AMR group owned by Mahesh Reddy reportedly bought Telugu Warriors for Rs 5 crore. Other financial commitments apparently led Vishnu to divest his ownership, though he will continue to play for Telugu Warriors.
Telugu Warriors is led by hero Venkatesh. The month-long tournament will start on January 12.
CCL is getting larger with more glamour quotient as two more franchises – Bengal team owned by Boney Kapoor and Sridevi and the Malayalam team owned by director Priyadarshan and superstar Mohan Lal entering the fray.
The actors who play for CCL too will get good money – said to be ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 75 lakh depending on their star image.
