Officials of Deccan Chargers with actor Anubhav Mohanty at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 25: Deccan Chargers, the Hyderabad-based franchisee of the Indian Premier League (IPL), have hinted at one more inclusion from the state into their side for the fifth edition of the T-20 extravaganza starting April 4. Last week, the team had signed Odisha Ranji player Biplab Samantray for Rs 30 lakh for one season.

“We are planning to include another player from Odisha in the team,” Deccan Chargers CEO Venkat Reddy said here today.

The team is also likely to rope in Odia actor Anubhav Mohanty as its brand ambassador for the two matches that it plays at the Barabati Stadium here. Mohanty was seen engaged in a conversation with the two-member delegation of the Chargers, which was here in the city today to sign an agreement with the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) for the two matches. The team will take on Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in Cuttack on April 19 and April 22, respectively.

The Chargers had adopted Cuttack, a non-IPL franchisee city, as an alternative venue owing to the Telangana trouble in Hyderabad.

“The representatives of Deccan Chargers have spoken to Anubhav and we are hoping for a positive outcome,” said OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera.

He added that Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, and Akshay Kumar, brand ambassador of the Delhi Daredevils, would also be present at Barabati to cheer for their teams.

Behera said as per guidelines issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Deccan Chargers would pay the OCA (the organisers) Rs 30 lakh per match as organising fee. He added that the team has taken the responsibility for selling the tickets for both its matches and that the prices have been slashed by nearly 50 per cent to attract more spectators.

“It would be a double treat to watch the IPL match and the stars at one place,” said Asutosh Sahu, a cricket enthusiast.