Vikas-Arjun playing T-20 for a Gud cause.

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In an initiative to celebrate and keep the spirits soaring of the recent win at the T20 cricket world cup by the Indian cricket team, The Indian Television Academy (ITA) in association with BIG Reach will be hosting a day & night star-studded celebrity T20 Cricket Match in an effort to support the cause of 'Beti' - a movement against female foeticide. This high-strung celebrity cricket match will involve the who's who from the glamorous world of the Television industry and will be held on October 28, 2007 at the very popular Andheri Sports Complex. Reliance Mobile is the sponsor for the event and BIG 92.7 FM is the official radio partner.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Anu Ranjan, President – The ITA said, "It is for this noble cause that we are organizing a 20-20 Day & Night Celebrity Charity Cricket Match. A part of the proceeds of this event will be used for creating awareness amongst people who are indulging in the heinous act of terminating the Girl Foetus."

The match will have prominent television stars, actors, anchors participating and showing solidarity for the cause. Varun Badola will captain the team of TTCI (Television Cricket Club of India) and Manav Gohil will captain the team of TCL (Television Cricket League). "Using the reach of these popular television stars we plan to spread awareness on the rampant cases of female foeticide that is causing a gender imbalance in our society" says, Mr. Shashi Ranjan, Convenor – ITA.

The who's who of the television industry will participate in the match including Chetan Hansraj, Sharad Kelkar, Bakhtiyaar Irani, Karan Wahi, Amit Behl, Aditya Narayan, Romit Raj, Indraneel Sengupta, Abhijeet Savant, Gaurav Chopra, Vikas Manaktala, Kabir Sadanand, Shaan, Chaitaniya, Ravi Behl and many others.

The commentators will include actor and BIG 92.7 FM RJ Vrajesh Hirjee & Archana Jani, Tanaaz Currim, Manini De, Suresh Menon, Ashiesh Roy, Sumeet Raghavan and Manoj Joshi. Dressed as cheerleaders and supporting their teams will be sizzling women of the television industry including Roopali Ganguly, Parakh Madan, Poonam Gulati, Purbi Joshi, Monaz, Priyanka Bassi, Gauri Nigudkar and Jasweer to name a few.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jayyant Bhokare, Vice President – Business Development, BIG Reach, said "We are excited to be partnering with The ITA for the charity T20 Cricket Match which only gets bigger and better. This charity event will offer an excellent opportunity and value for advertisers and fabulous entertainment for audiences."

Sanjay Behl, Head Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications, said, "The new format of Twenty20 cricket has created tremendous interest not just among the cricket enthusiasts but also among newer customer segments like women and children too. Reliance Mobile is proud to have been the 'Global Partner' of the first edition of the ICC T20 World Championship in South Africa.

Today, we are proud to be associated with the ITA Twenty20 match being played by celebrities from the field of television to support the noble cause of protecting the girl foetus. As the sponsors, we are excited about this event and would like to express that we share the same emotions & sentiments towards the worthy cause. And the current interest in the Twenty20 game will be the ideal platform to build awareness as well as sensitize societal attitude towards this serious crime."

The Indian Television Academy is the only body of Television in India. Since then, it has initiated a host of welfare measures for the TV-Industry, here. Another pioneering initiative of the ITA is GR8! The world's first TV Magazine.

Besides Television, The ITA & BIG Reach have also been sensitive towards a lot of social issues and always done their bit for the same. In the past, when the calamitous Tsunami struck our Southern shores, The ITA organized a Show, in which few of the celebrities of the TV-Industry participated to raise Funds for the rehabilitation of those devastated by the catastrophe. This match would be an exciting event along with the touch of humanity.

TCI V/S TCCI:

Sr. No

TCL

TCCI

1.

Manav Gohil (Captain)

Varun Badola (Captain)

2.

Bakhtiyaar (w)

Indraneel Sengupta (w)

3.

Sharad Kelkar

Abhijeet Savant

4.

Karan Wahi

Shashi Ranjan

5.

Amit Behl

Anand Suryavanshi

6.

Sumit Raghvan

Gaurav Chopra

7.

Arjun Bijlani

Vikas Manaktala

8.

Aditya Narayan

Kabir Sadanand

9.

Manish Raisinghani

Shaan

10.

Naveed

Chaitaniya

11.

Manoj Joshi

Ravi Behl

12.

Romit Raj

Chetan Hansraj

- End -

Natalie.