AITA plans IPL-inspired city league

Past men,current women

There are plans to have top former international names among the men and active players among the women represent the five teams along with current Indian players. Each team will have two international and four current Indian senior and junior players, Khanna said.

Each tie will have mens singles and doubles,womens singles and doubles and a mixed doubles match. There will be 20 ties and one final played in the evenings. Each tie will be completed within three hours, he added.

Ivan Brixi,who heads an international sports marketing company,will be assisting the AITA. We have been talking to some top players and the response is positive, Brixi said. November-December is a period when we can get the current women players as they have a shorter calendar compared to the men, he said.

Khanna said the proposed league will help build infrastructure and develop junior players. It is a developmental exercise, he said. Franchises will have to adopt junior players and give them financial back-up.

Khanna also made it clear that no member of the executive committee will have any stake in the franchises.

Indian Davis Cup coach Nandan Bal expressed delight at the proposed league,saying that it could be a big boost to the junior players. They can learn from top international and India players while practising alongside them, he said.