PKL Auction: League gets its first crorepati, Iranian Fazel becomes the highest paid

The Indian Premier League has made many cricketers millionaires. Now it is the turn of the Pro Kabaddi League to shower monies on its players. The league in its sixth season has got its first crorepati. U Mumba have bagged Iranian star Fazel Atrachali in the Pro Kabaddi League Auctions for Rs 1 crore in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The defender has become the first player to be bought for Rs 1 crore in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League Auctions and hence the most expensive player ever.

“I am very happy to find myself back in the Mumbai team,” Fazel said in a telephonic conversation. “Mumbai is like a home for me. I have great regard for them. I am happy to be back with Mumbai. I thank my team owners for this.”

Nitin Tomar was the most expensive player in last year’s auctions when he was sold for Rs 93 lakh to the UP Yoddha team.

Fazel Atrachali has been one of the most influential overseas players in the Pro Kabaddi League. He is the eleventh best defender in terms of tackle points. He has scored 152 tackle points with an average of 2.71 in the competition so far. He has recorded 11 high 5s and a tackle strike rate of 66.09.

In an intense bid bar with Jaipur Pink Panthers, U Mumba team owner Ronnie Screwvala raised the bid to set the record for the highest salary for a PKL player. Fazel attracted the premium for his strong defence. “Defence is a very strong aspect of this game. Fazel had played with us and we are happy to get him back,” said Ronnie Screwvala after making the record bid. He does not rule out the bar going higher further. “There can be three to four more one crore rupee deals.”

Atrachali finished as the ninth best defender with 57 tackle points for the Gujarat Fortune Giants in the last season. He was the best defender in the fourth season of PKL when he played for the Patna Pirates.

Another Iranian, Abozar Mohajermighani has been sold to the Telugu Titans for Rs 76 lakh. The defender was the costliest buy among the foreign players in the auctions last year, when he was bought by Gujarat Fortune Giants for Rs 50 lakh.

Mohajermighani has recorded 65 tackle points, 2 high 5s, 2.71 average tackle points and a tackle strike rate of 56.03.

All the 12 teams have a limit of Rs 4 crore to spend in this year’s auctions.

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