Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS): Cue sports in India are set to follow in the footsteps of franchise-based tournaments, like the Indian Premier League and Indian Super League, after the Cue Masters League (CML) was announced here Tuesday.

Newly-elected International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) president P.V.K. Mohan said that CML would be a franchise-based league with six teams from different parts of India, for which the work was already begun.

“It will be called the Cue Masters League and will have all three formats of the sport -- billiards, snooker and pool," said Mohan at the Bengal Rowing Club.

"A player has to play all three formats to win the title. The job has been given to (sports management firm) IMG to work out its prospects. It will be a franchise based league with marquee players and owners, and will feature six teams from all over India."

Mohan added that the concept is still in its nascent stage but has already garnered interest from different business and media houses.

“We have garnered interest from different business houses. We hope to get the final draft ready by April but it is still in a nascent stage.”

Mohan believes the future of cue sports in India is very bright as “youngsters are readily taking to the sport these days".