MUMBAI:With the countdown to the Champions Trophy that kicks off in Sri Lanka 12 September well and truely on, SET MAX today announced a promotion for cricket fans in India.

MAX and World Cup Network brand ambassador Kapil Dev will travel to 5 cities in India and gives local cricket fans the opportunity to play cricket with him.

The promotion, beginning tomorrow kicks off in Nagpur and will then move to Pune (10 August), Bangalore (17 August), Kanpur (25 August) and Ludhiana (8 September).

'Gully Cricket' is one of the initiatives to be undertaken by MAX to promote the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka 2002 and the ICC Cricket World Cup, South Africa 2003, which will be aired on MAX.

'Gully Cricket' will feature Kapil Dev on a preplanned tour of each of the 5 cities. He will visit several locations in each city during the day and will play a game of cricket with his fans. Fans get an opportunity to bowl out their favourite cricketer and win autographed prizes.

The entire promotion is supported by a print, broadcast, radio and outdoor campaign in each city.

"Gully Cricket is the first in a series of unique initiatives being undertaken by MAX for the ICC Cricket tournaments. Our aim is to build the excitement of cricket in every corner of India beginning now to the end of the World Cup," said Rajat Jain, executive V-P & business head, MAX.