Rahul to host rural cricket in Amethi

Lucknow, Feb 24 (UNI) AICC general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi would host a mega cricket carnival in his parliamentary constituency next month.

The rural cricket tournament would have around 1200 teams and would last at least three months. The one-dayers would be played on a knockout basis where even a single defeat could mean end of the dream.

Cricket fever has gripped youngsters in the VVIP constituency after Rahul announced a prize money of Rs 3 lakh for the winning team of the tournament. The idea of a talent hunt in Amethi, sources in Congress party claim, is the brainchild of BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla. What made it click with the MP was the impressive sports record of the Gandhi-Nehru pocket borough which has already sent out two national-level players -- Pankaj Singh from Amethi and Rudra Pratap Singh from Rae Bareli -- recently.

Though many in Amethi are not computer savvy there, teams have been provided with an option to register online.

UNI NAB MB CS RAI1209