Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, March 18 (IANS) Indian Ppremier League cheer leaders will face some competition , in wooing crowds, during the T-20 matches in Cuttack as the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has decided to organise a performance by traditional Sambalpuri dancers before the start of every match.
“We have requested the IPL authorities that we would like to include Sambalpuri dance during the IPL matches, which has been accepted by them. We have included Sambalpuri dance to showcase Orissa’s culture during the IPL matches,” OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera told IANS.

“About 70 Sambalpuri dancers will perform for an hour before the start of the match,” he said.

But they will not be a replacement for the popular cheer leaders.

“Cheer leaders are a part and parcel of IPL matches and they will be in action during the matches here. We have set up seven platforms for their performance,” he said.

Kalinga Sena, a fringe political outfit in the state, had threatened to disrupt the IPL matches if cheer leaders perform during the matches.

Cuttack, a non-IPL franchisee city, got a chance to host matches after the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers picked Barabati Stadium here as a venue, terming it as their “catchment” area. The Deccan Chargers will meet Kings XI Punjab March 19 and Delhi Daredevils March 21.