Hollywood star Russell Crowe is all set to own a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Twenty20 extravaganza planned by BCCI and backed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to Sun-Herald, the Academy Award winner - cousin of former New Zealand captains Jeff and Martin Crowe - and businessman Peter Holmes a Court, who jointly own the South Sydney Rugby League Club, are about to make this unusual business foray by buying a franchise in the IPL.
"If the football club decides this is something they want to get involved with, then the Souths name could be spread," Holmes a Court was quoted as saying.
Rabbitohs, as the club is better known, has already entered a global partnership with English soccer club Leeds United and the sides are scheduled to play a trial match in Florida next year.
Crowe, who won the best actor's Oscar in 2001 for his starring role in Gladiator and went on to act in movies like A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man, is a sport-loving guy who supports Leeds and roots for Michigan Wolverines football team.
Meanwhile, former New South Wales cricketer Neil Maxwell, who is well versed with this new competition, hailed Crowe's move and said, "Having Australian business involvement in an IPL franchise would be tactically a good move by the IPL. Within 20 years I see the IPL staging its own One-day games and playing in different parts of the world, whether its Hong Kong, Dubai or even the United States or China."
Already a handful of Australian cricketers have signed up for the IPL and the list includes Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee, apart from the retired duo of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
