SPL Trophy Unveiled; 70 per cent of Indian Cricket Team players come from humble background

Hyderabad, August 7, 2016: Every child has a right to play. When a child comes to me for coaching in cricket i don’t look at his talent. All i see is he has every right to play whatever the sport he enjoys to play said Daniel Daniel Kanaparthi of Daniels Cricket Academy, who conceived the idea of Slum Premier League.

Welcoming the gathering at the Trophy and Jersey unveiling function of Slum Premier League(SLP), which was attended by 8oo people including 256 players, their coaches, sponsor and parents, Daniel said when children play, the world wins. Unfortunately, less previleged children do not have such luxury to play the game. All they can do is what sitting on a wall while others are playing. Every child has right to play, right to rise and shine. Sport is a Friendship. Sport is a Health. Sport is an Education. Sport is a life. Sport brings the world together he said and added that 70 per cent of Indian Cricketers came from an humble background like yours.

Dhoni was a Ticket Collector, Virender Sehwag used to travel 84kms by bus everyday to practice cricket. Ravindra Jadeja is son of a security guard. He lost his mother at 17 years. Harbhajn Singh thought of moving to the US to drive truck for a living. Umesh Uadav is a son of coal miner.

Mohammed Shami is a son of a farmer. Wasim Jaffer is a son of a bus driver. He is the highest run-getter in Ranji Matches till date. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, a son of a sub inspector, struggled to get a proper playing shoes and kit. So you too have future to be a great cricketer once Daniel told them.

There is a unlimited growth in Aata(sport) and Paata(Song). The strength in Slum Premier League is in its word 'Slum'. When i took objection to using 'Slum' in the name, Daniel, the organizer explained me that it is the strength and identity, i was convinced the importance of the tournament. When whole world is moving from rural to urban, in search of livelihood, without even having a house or any address in the city, slums come up. And their living is horrible said Chief Guest BJP National General Secretary, Muralidhar Rao.

Speaking further he said, in India 'weak' or more. We need to make those 'weak' stronger, then only India becomes a stronger nation. This slum Premier Cricket League will definitely bring a visible changes, he expressed his confidence. What is so surprising that for majority of these 256 players, they don’t have house, no cricket bat, no facilities. But, they have a cricket team. Let’s extend our helping hand to give these players from slum areas an opportunity to showcase their sporting talent.

I suggest to organisers to conduct a second edition of the same tournament immediately after the first one gets over by bringing 100 more teams together. You can expect my fullest cooperation he said.

The entire auditorium reverberated with motivational messages, songs, quotes on sportsmanship, bravery, Championship etc.

Besides players and other, the function which continued late into the night on Saturday, it was graced by two former and veteran Ranji Players--Mahender and Prahlad.