indianexpress.com :: Use cricket to uplift other sports, says Shahruk

Use cricket to uplift other sports, says Shahruk

Agencies

Posted online: Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 1427 hrs IST

Pune, February 28:
Bollywood star ShahRukh Khan has explained that the chance to make money from cricket and channelising it to other sports was the main reason for him to get involved with the Cricket Board-promoted Indian Premier League.

“Commerce and business are very important in today’s world. Cricket is commercially viable and we need to make money from this sport,” said the actor, who has bought the Kolkata franchise of the IPL, in Pune last night.

Shahrukh said this in the presence of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President and MP Suresh Kalmadi who, in turn, appealed to the superstar to share his celeb status with other sports also.

“I am very happy with Chak de India and the work you did for hockey. But I’m disappointed you went back to cricket.

I want you to be made the ambassador of the Commonweath Games and Olympic sports in India,” said Kalmadi at the inauguration of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup.

“There are around 10 nations playing cricket at the moment and over 200 countries competiting in Olympic sports.

Cricket has many fathers and I would love to have you as the brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games,” he added.

However, the comments did not go well with the actor, who took a jibe at the IOA President.

“Please don’t feel bad that I am backing only one sport.

Sports should be part of our second nature and I am a sportsperson by heart,” he said.

“(My) next step would be to take it (money earned in IPL) to hockey, football, kho kho, also kabaddi and gulli danda,” he remarked.

“I have played hockey and a bit of cricket. I have something to clarify to Kalmadi also ... please don’t feel bad that I am backing the cricket team. I need to make money from this sport and then move to other sports,” ShahRukh said.

The movie star said he believed that the next step for sports-loving persons like him was to take the money he earns from IPL to other sports.

The film star said one should not look down upon any sport and added he wanted to see the football team playing in the World Cup.

“We should not look down upon any sport. We need to use this sport (cricket) to uplift other sports."

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Use cricket to uplift other sports, says Shahruk Agencies Posted online: Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 1427 hrs IST Pune, February 28: Bollywood star ShahRukh Khan has explained that the chance to make money from cricket and channelising it to other sports was the main reason for him to get involved with the Cricket Board-promoted Indian Premier League. “Commerce and business are very important in today’s world. Cricket is commercially viable and we need to make money from this sport,” said the actor, who has bought the Kolkata franchise of the IPL, in Pune last night. Shahrukh said this in the presence of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President and MP Suresh Kalmadi who, in turn, appealed to the superstar to share his celeb status with other sports also. “I am very happy with Chak de India and the work you did for hockey. But I’m disappointed you went back to cricket. I want you to be made the ambassador of the Commonweath Games and Olympic sports in India,” said Kalmadi at the inauguration of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup. “There are around 10 nations playing cricket at the moment and over 200 countries competiting in Olympic sports. Cricket has many fathers and I would love to have you as the brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games,” he added. However, the comments did not go well with the actor, who took a jibe at the IOA President. “Please don’t feel bad that I am backing only one sport. Sports should be part of our second nature and I am a sportsperson by heart,” he said. “(My) next step would be to take it (money earned in IPL) to hockey, football, kho kho, also kabaddi and gulli danda,” he remarked. “I have played hockey and a bit of cricket. I have something to clarify to Kalmadi also ... please don’t feel bad that I am backing the cricket team. I need to make money from this sport and then move to other sports,” ShahRukh said. The movie star said he believed that the next step for sports-loving persons like him was to take the money he earns from IPL to other sports. The film star said one should not look down upon any sport and added he wanted to see the football team playing in the World Cup. “We should not look down upon any sport. We need to use this sport (cricket) to uplift other sports."