Punjab is set to get its own IPL-style T20 league, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday unveiling the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, featuring six franchise teams and star Punjab cricketers including Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar. The league will be played from August 30 to September 13 at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali, with more than 450 Punjab players set to enter the auction on August 9, giving emerging talent a major platform alongside established players.
During this, Indian cricketers Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Ramandeep Singh. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab has always produced talented players for the country and that the government is working continuously to connect young people with sports and further strengthen the state in the sporting arena. He also highlighted sports as a principal weapon in the campaign against drugs.
Sharing a few snippets featuring players, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “It was a great pleasure to meet the players of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cup. The land of Punjab has always produced talented players for the country. Our government is continuously working to connect the youth with sports and further strengthen Punjab in the field of sports. Six teams are participating in this T20 Cup. All matches will be played at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, from August 30 to September 13. A Sporting Punjab, A Progressive Punjab.”
Calling the league “Punjab’s own IPL”, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “During a meeting with representatives of the Punjab Cricket Association and national-level players here today, the league will feature six franchise teams. Indian Cricket Team Captain Shubman Gill will represent Fazilka Falcons, Arshdeep Singh will play for Ludhiana Lions, Abhishek Sharma for Amritsar Soormaaz, Prabhsimran Singh for Jalandhar Warriors, Ramandeep Singh for Mohali Kings, and Gurnoor Brar for Bathinda Royals. The players who have brought glory to India will add to the prestige of the tournament. The league will be held from August 30 to September 13, with all matches to be played at the PCA Cricket Stadium in Mohali.”
The Chief Minister stated, “Punjab is currently the backbone of the Indian cricket team, with 21 players from the state featuring in the IPL. All of them will now be among the major attractions of Punjab’s own league. All players participating in the Punjab Cricket League will be from Punjab.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For this purpose, a pool of more than 450 players from Punjab has been created, who will participate in the auction on August 9. The prominent names among these players include Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Naman Dhir, Vihaan Malhotra, Imanjot Singh Chahal, Ashwani Kumar and Krish Bhagat. The league will be played on a round-robin basis, with each team playing eight league matches.”
He said, “The league will provide young players from Punjab with valuable experience of playing on a major platform. Likewise, it will give them an opportunity to share the dressing room with established players thereby giving them experience. A comprehensive campaign has been launched to eradicate drugs from Punjab, and sports are the principal weapon in this battle.”
The Chief Minister noted, “The ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ sporting event is being successfully organised every year across the state. Likewise, more than 3,100 sports grounds are being developed to promote sporting culture in the state. Punjab will host the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy for the first time in October-November, and now the state’s own cricket league is also set to begin.”
On the occasion, Punjab Cricket Association President Amarjit Mehta, Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Vice-President Deepak Bali presented a T-shirt bearing the league’s logo to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann as a token of honour.
Indian cricketers Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Ramandeep Singh, who are part of the Indian team, also presented a cricket bat and ball to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann as a mark of respect.