IPL star Jakati starts new innings

Panaji: Cricketer Shadab Jakati on Saturday took a plunge in politics by joining the newly-formed Goa Forward (GF) party. The 35-year-old, a left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner, who plays for Goa in first class cricket and Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League, has joined politics with less than a year left for assembly polls in the coastal state. "Cricket is my life! Now it is the time to take Goa forward and make politics a gentleman's game," Jakati said, announcing his entry into the party, which was launched in January. Party spokesman Durgadas Kamat used cricket terms to describe how Jakati's entry will help the fledging outfit and take on the ruling BJP. "Jakati's googly will surely help Goa Forward take the wicket of Goa BJP and build Goa of our dreams," he said. "(Jakati) has been impressed with our model of projecting and promoting young and fresh faces," Kamat said. "Goa Forward will given him ticket if he desires to contest the polls," the spokesman said. The Goa cricketer represented Chennai Super Kings in IPL for six seasons (2008-13) and Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014. In this year's edition of the cash-rich league, he played for Gujarat Lions franchise.