Kolkata, May 10 -- Former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly believes the Bengal T20 League is steadily emerging as an important platform for young cricketers, as the tournament gears up for its third season next month.

Speaking on the sidelines of Day 1 of the league's first-ever player auctions, dedicated to the men's competition, Ganguly reflected on how regional franchise tournaments are helping players progress from divisional and domestic cricket to bigger stages such as the IPL and international cricket, according to a release.

The women's auction is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Calling the introduction of the auction system an exciting addition to the tournament this season, Gan...