Agartala, March 11 (IANS) In a rare gesture, Tripura Governor Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil has sponsored a trip for ten budding cricketers to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in Mumbai starting Friday, officials said here Thursday.

'A 13-member team, comprising 10 under-19 promising young cricketers and three officials, has already left for Mumbai to watch the IPL matches,' a Raj Bhavan official told IANS.

The official said all expenditure of this team, including airfare, food and lodging, would be borne by authorities of the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai.

A recipient of Padma Shree award, renowned educationist Patil has founded several educational and health institutions besides sports stadia in Maharashtra.

'The governor took this initiative to encourage the potential cricketers,' the official added.

Patil, who became Tripura governor Nov 27 last year, has been taking one rupee as his monthly salary instead of Rs.110,000 that is the regular salary for governors.