NEW DELHI – Bangalore Royal Challengers owner Vijay Mallya has already spotted an opportunity in the Indian Premier League’s unexpected move to South Africa this season.
Bangalore have six players of South African origin in its squad, including South Africa-born former England skipper Kevin Pietersen, who signed for $1.5 million this season.
Pietersen will lead the Royal Challengers for a few matches before he returns to prepare for England’s home series against the West Indies.
Royal Challengers then have options for a top South African player to lead the team as the line-up includes Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher. “I have several South Africans in my team, I hope the people there too come out and support,” Mallya told Indian media.
The other South African players in the Royal Challengers squad are Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe and Dillon du Preez. Each team is allowed to play up to four foreigners in the starting 11.
Like Bangalore, the Mumbai Indians have a South African connection.
Former Proteas skipper Shaun Pollock played for the Mumbai line-up last year and led the team when Sachin Tendulkar was injured. Pollock has now taken up an assignment as a mentor and adviser for the Mumbai Indians and has put several players through a training camp in Durban, South Africa.
“I doubt South Africa will be able to get big crowds as we saw in the IPL last year,” Pollock said. “But people here love Twenty20 and appreciate world-class players. I’m sure they will come out in numbers.”
