SMS game during India-West Indies ODI series

Kolkata:

Text message prediction game, 6UP, that had raised a storm during Indian Premier League in South Africa, is set to re-launch during the four-match India-West Indies ODI series this month.

The game's promoting company, IPLAYUP, on Friday announced their tie up with Australian great Steve Waugh and said they have addressed the concerns and a part of the revenue would to Waugh's charity.

The controversial game, launched by IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi amid much fanfare in South Africa, was withdrawn by BCCI after Union Sports minister MS Gill objected, saying it promoted "betting and gambling".

"We have addressed the concerns and made sure that merit and integrity of the game remains intact," the game's co-founder George Tomeski said last evening.

Giving his stamp of approval to the controversial game, the 1999 World Cup winning Australia captain, Waugh, said, "There was a lot of misunderstanding when it was launched. It's a game of skill and I would not have associated myself if I had doubts about the game's legitimacy."

Tomeski said five per cent of each text message revenue would be donated to Steve Waugh Foundation Global, the India chapter of the Foundation was launched yesterday.