India skipper Sourav Ganguly has joined forces with sports network ESPN-STAR Sports to present a cricket show, thereby becoming the first playing captain of a national side to anchor a cricket programme.
The weekly programme, 'ESPN Cricket Show', beginning September 26, will provide an innovative package, which includes on-pitch excitement and interactive analysis of the week's cricket by experts.
The show will also have entertaining capsules on talent hunts, consumer contests and the new Super Selector, ESPN Software India Managing Director R C Venkatesh told newspersons in Kolkata on Monday.
Ace commentator Harsha Bhogle will co-host the programme along with Ganguly, while former legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar will offer tips to young cricketers and present his incisive observations from 'Sunny's Corner' from venues in India and abroad.
The galaxy of former stars slated to feature in the programme include Australia's Dean Jones, West Indies' Ian Bishop, Martin Crowe (New Zealand), Jonty Rhodes and Pat Symcox (both South Africa).
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and former England opener Geoffrey Boycott will provide the cutting edge.
The show, to be telecast every Friday from 9.30 pm, will travel to cricket destinations outside India, with Australia being the first stopover during India's upcoming tour Down Under.
Speaking at the press meet, Ganguly said, "The programme will help in relating to the people about how the players handle pressure situations and the hard work they go through.
"Cricket is a passion in India. People are crazy about the game as well as the cricketers. Even street boys know about Yuvraj [Singh] and [Virender] Sehwag. And I firmly believe that people have a right to know the facts."
He said "kids dreaming to make it big would also get to know from the programme what it takes to become a Rahul [Dravid] or Sachin [Tendulkar]".
Ganguly and the ESPN bigwigs, however, refused to disclose the terms and duration of the contract, saying things would evolve in due course.
"Everything will depend on how his [Ganguly's] career goes," Bhogle said.
