Guwahati, July 13 -- About a week from now, 275 cricketers from across Assam will learn which of eight franchises they will play for when the Assam Premier League (APL) holds its first-ever player auction on July 19 at the 91 Yards Club, ACA Stadium, Guwahati.

The marquee list of 20 players carries the weight of Assam's senior domestic circuit. Denish Das, Sibsankar Roy, Sumit Kashyap, Swarupam Purkayastha and Jitumoni Kalita lead the batting and all-round options, while Mrinmoy Dutta, Muktar Hussain, Avinav Choudhary, Rahul Singh, Sadak Hussain and Bhargab Pratim Lakhar headline the bowling group, according to a press release.

Assam Cricket Association President Taranga Gogoi said the player auction on 19 July marks the true beginning ...