Trade Azhar for Sachin at Cricket Stock Exchange

The site launched on Tuesday last is expected to witness rigorous trading when the World Cup opens on May 14. All the 86 players and nine test-playing countries listed in CricEx, have stock rates – high, low and the current rate – which would fluctuate with their performance as the World Cup proceeds. The smartest movers will get prizes such as computers and colour televisions from sponsors like Intel and BPL.

Login in your and you are on the floor. To sell or buy shares, you just have to click the five-letter symbol of the player and specify the quantity. A portfolio page listing all your shares will be shown on the left side of the navigation bar. With CriceX Rs 20,00,000 to invest, your securities, gains and losses will be shown whenever you log on.

As for the player stock, Sachin Tendulkar, obviously, is the costliest with a current rate of Crs 91.32. Jacques Kallis, Shane Warne and Brian Lara come next with Crs 79.28, Crs 78.98 and Crs 78.72 respectively. While a Ganguly share is priced at Crs 70, Afridi is available for just Crs 40.

Kumble and Donald have the same share price of Crs 70, but only till the pitches reveal their true nature. Srinath might be a safe bet now, for he is up for grabs for just Crs 50 a share. Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Inzamam-ul-Haq are priced at just Crs 60 each, but you will need three Campbell shares to buy one of them.

Australia and South Africa top the team stock with Crs 90.23 and Crs 89.98, while India has a share price of Crs 70.41, almost Crs 10 lesser than a Pakistan share. The World Cup host team is available for Crs 50.

Satyam Infoway says trading at CricEx does not need any knowledge of Stock Exchange, since it is just a game like monopoly. However, there are virtual stock brokers, whom you can call in for assistance. Furthermore, a panel of commentators including Ian Chappel and Bishen Singh Bedi will update their analyses on the ongoing World Cup to help the traders make their choice.

According to CricEx project manager Karthik, the site has received a "heartening response", with the number of hits multiplying ten-fold every day. Stating that everything regarding the project including the identity of the traders as well as their number is "highly confidential", he denies that it encourages betting, since the money involved here is virtual.

"In fact," says Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Ashok Kumbhat, "bookies do not need such things, for they are cleverer than any of the stock brokers or commentators on the site."