Celebrity Cricketers Fraternity (CCF) is possibly the only one of its kind in India with 17-odd teams comprising film and television industry and media professionals. An insider, who prefers to stay unnamed says, “I think it has to do with the broad mindedness of the Malayali. I don’t think this could be easily done in any other language film industries in India as they tend to have clearly defined hierarchies.” The league, formed in 2011 and registered in 2018-19 as CCF, is all set for another first. It has launched the Celebrity Cricketer’s Fraternity Tournament in the Last Man Stands (LMS) format, which kicks off on April 19.
Played in the two hour, eight-a-side T20 format; LMS, founded in 2005, is said to be the largest amateur cricket league in the world. Blue Tigers holds the Indian franchise.
Siju Wilson at the CCF auction for the LMS tournament
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Special Arrangement
Although it is cricket, with its vastly different rules it sounds like an altogether different game. “It is a new format, but it is still cricket with all the elements. We were thinking of what to do differently when we came across with LMS. This is the biggest tournament for amateurs in the world,” says filmmaker Anil Thomas, president of the CCF. Tying up with Blue Tigers, he hopes, will lead to greater achievements for CCF.
It is a hope producer-actor and owner of the team Seahorse Sailors, Sudeep Karakkat echoes. “We have 12 top-notch teams, with 12 celebrity owners and brand ambassadors. Bringing LMS to Kerala for the first time and the tie-up are an achievement for the CCF, which is a one-of-its-kind cricket league in India.”Among the team owners are actors Unni Mukundan, Anthony Pepe, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Akhil Marar, Lukman Avran, Naren, Sunny Wayne, Johny Antony, Siju Wilson, Saju Navodaya and Vijay Yesudas.
The CCF Tournament auction
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Special Arrangement
Unlike the Celebrity Cricket League, which comprises actors primarily, the CCF includes everybody from the film, television and media industries interested in the sport.
Celebrities at play
A consortium of 17 teams, CCF is composed of players from different departments of filmmaking such as producers, directors, singers, choreographers etc. The CCF LMS tournament meanwhile has 12 teams and the 120-odd players, for the tournament, have been chosen from around 400 amateur cricketers who are members of the CCF.
The CCF LMS teams have been culled from these teams, a mix of five A category and an equal number of B category players. Each team has 11 players — the player – 8, reserve – 3 and a celebrity player.
“The competition to find the final 120 was tough. We conducted a player auction, based on which the teams were constituted,” says Sleeba Varghese, ad filmmaker-producer and secretary of CCF.
Unni Mukundan
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Special Arrangement
The seven-day tournament will see the team play three matches each. Interestingly, the last man standing at the crease can bat unlike the traditional format where two players are needed at the crease. Since the format is new, the tournament is being played for the first time in Kerala, players and team owners are learning the rules of the game. “It is confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will not be as hard,” says one of the players. The practice sessions will begin after Id so as to not interfere with Ramzan fasting.
The Last Man Stands format
“This format requires players to be in top physical form because it is more vigorous!” says film director Syamdhar, player and owner of the team Kangaroo Knockers. The games will be intense, with each innings being an hour long with 100 balls (five per over) bowled and in two hours one match would be done.
Actor Unni Mukundan, co-owner of Seahorse Sailors and celebrity player of the team, says, “LMS is something that I haven’t experienced yet as a player. But being someone who is open to exploration, I’m keen to participate. I feel it will make the game a bit more dynamic. Players and owners are excited. I’m equally thrilled, because apart from films, cricket is something that has always taken my attention. So owning a team feels exciting. I’ll be participating as a player as well!” The celebrity players are exempt from the A and B grading.
Sunny Wayne at the CCF Tournament auctions
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Special Arrangement
Although this time, there are no women’s teams, the plan is to have at least a couple of teams in the future, hopefully by the next edition. Women actors are team brand ambassadors. Actor Anziba Hassan of team Cheetah Chasers says, “Cricket is one game that can be played by a mixed team…as long as the players are physically fit. There is no space for gender discrimination in terms of participation. I brought up this point at the launch event of the tournament and it was met with enthusiastic applause. Everyone was on board with the idea.”
Ansiba Hassan
Mahima Nambiar, brand ambassador of Seahorse Sailors, adds, “For now, we [women] may not be players or have our own team, but we have a definite role to play — take the game to the audience. When a celebrity is associated with something, in this case the tournament, it generates more curiosity and brings in viewers.”
The team winning the tournament will get an opportunity to head to the United States to play the US Premier League for a friendly match. That is not all, the organisers hope that a win at the CCF Tournament could possibly qualify the team for national level tournament and then, as Anil Thomas says, “Who knows? Head to the UK for the international LMS tournament!”
The tournament will played from April 19 to 25 at St Paul’s College, Kalamasserry, grounds. It will be open to the public
Published – March 28, 2025 02:03 pm IST