MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan, reigning Bollywood superstar and famed on-screen lover boy, was the chosen face to inaugurate the first ever edition of the Toyota University Cricket Championship (UCC T20)
Spotted on the cricket pitch, looking ever the dapper and well turned-out superstar was Shah Rukh Khan, in a charcoal grey suit and a head full of gelled hair. The handsome actor did his bit to inaugurate and launch the first ever university cricket championship. Also seen enjoying himself on the pitch was former Indian player Rahul Dravid.
Shah Rukh Khan spoke at the press conference before the inaugural ceremony, where he said that he personally didn’t have the time to play cricket. When asked about whether he would participate in the on-going Celebrity Cricket League (which has his rival Salman Khan at centre stage), Shah Rukh humbly and cheekily replied that the CCL doesn’t need a “smaller star” like him. “I personally won’t get time to play cricket so I don’t think I will be attached to anything else but if it requires me.. I think there are so many stars in CCL, I don’t think they need a smaller star like me.”
Speaking about professionalizing university sport in India, SRK candidly stated: “I will be really honest… I am someone who believes professionalizing sports in this country is perhaps the most important aspect if I can any way get attached to it. I am happy that I am associated with it.”
Firmly espousing the connect between sports and women, Khan said in good humour: “You have to start somewhere and this is just the beginning slowly, it will spread to more places. Specifically if you ask me, then there is no combination like sports and women. I would be really happy if it went across and women participate in it.”
Shah Rukh also added that he wishes to see more such tournaments being played in the country. “Sports is perhaps the greatest profession in this country. We hope with this, many more tournaments are created . This is just the beginning,” said an excited SRK.
