New Chandigarh, August 2 (Sports Desk)
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League was officially launched at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, on Sunday, ushering in a new era for cricket in Punjab. Scheduled to be held from August 30 to September 13, the inaugural edition promises high-quality cricket with participation from some of the state’s biggest stars.
The tournament will feature six franchise teams competing in 27 thrilling matches in a round-robin format. Leading Indian cricketers, including India captain Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, will be part of the league, making it one of the most exciting domestic T20 competitions in the country.
The league was officially launched by Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and PCA President Amarjeet Singh Mehta in the presence of India captain Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh. During the ceremony, the official logo of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League was also unveiled.
Each franchise will feature one marquee player and at least two icon players, ensuring a balanced mix of international stars, experienced domestic cricketers, and emerging talent from Punjab.
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Shubman Gill: League Will Shape Future Stars
Speaking on the occasion, India captain Shubman Gill described the league as an outstanding opportunity for young cricketers.
“The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is a fantastic platform for young players to showcase their talent and progress towards representing Punjab and India. Punjab has always produced exceptional cricketers, and I am confident this league will help discover many more. I congratulate the Punjab Cricket Association for this excellent initiative and wish the league great success.”
Meet Hayer: Punjab Has a Rich Cricketing Legacy
PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said Punjab has consistently been one of India’s strongest contributors to cricket, producing legendary players from Lala Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh to modern-day stars like Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, and Harmanpreet Kaur.
He said the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is a visionary initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aimed at providing aspiring cricketers with a professional platform to develop their skills and advance to higher levels of the game.
“This league will allow young players to compete alongside international stars, gain valuable experience, and take the next step in their cricketing careers. We are grateful to all the players, the Punjab Cricket Association, and everyone associated with this initiative. We are confident the league will be a grand success,” he added.
PCA President Highlights League’s Importance
PCA President Amarjeet Mehta said the league would provide Punjab’s young cricketers with an excellent opportunity to share the dressing room with international players and showcase their abilities on a larger stage.
He thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for his continuous support in turning the vision into reality and expressed confidence that the league would play a significant role in strengthening the future of Punjab cricket.
Franchise Owners and Players Felicitated
During the launch ceremony, PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, President Amarjeet Mehta, Vice President Deepak Bali, Treasurer Sunil Gupta, and Joint Secretary Sidhant Sharma felicitated the franchise owners and participating cricketers.
Auction on August 9
The player auction for the inaugural season will be held on August 9. The six franchises representing Amritsar, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda will finalise their squads ahead of the tournament.
Each franchise will have a salary purse of ₹45 lakh.
Player Categories and Base Prices:
- Marquee Player: ₹10 lakh
- Icon Player: ₹1.50 lakh (base price)
- Punjab First-Class Player: ₹1 lakh
- U-23 Player: ₹75,000
- U-19 Player: ₹50,000
- District Player: ₹20,000
Each franchise will be allowed a maximum squad size of 20 players.
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League aims to become one of India’s premier domestic T20 tournaments while creating a strong pathway for Punjab’s emerging cricketing talent to progress to national and international levels.
