Chandigarh, Aug. 30 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday inaugurated the first-ever franchise-based Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cricket League, describing the tournament as a major platform to provide budding cricketers of the state with greater opportunities to showcase their talent, gain exposure and advance in the sport.
The inaugural edition being organised by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), will feature six teams and run till September 13 at the PCA Cricket Stadium, Mohali.
Interacting with the players and organisers, CM Mann stated that the league would give talented cricketers from Punjab an opportunity to compete on a major platform and learn alongside established players. "Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is being organised to promote cricket in Punjab and provide greater opportunities to talented cricketers to advance in the sport. The league is being organised for the first time by the Punjab Cricket Association on the lines of the IPL," he said.
The inaugural ceremony was held on Sunday, with the first match of the tournament being played between Amritsar Soormas and Mohali Kings. The league will continue for two weeks, with the final scheduled for September 13. All matches are being played at the PCA Cricket Stadium in Mohali.
Highlighting Punjab's immense contribution to Indian cricket, CM said the state has consistently produced players who have gone on to represent the country at the highest level. "Today, it is a matter of immense pride for Punjab that the captains of both the Indian men's and women's cricket teams are from Punjab, Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively. As many as 21 players from Punjab are currently playing in the IPL."
Meanwhile CM Mann on Sunday, accompanied by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, visited the Art of Living Ashram in Bengaluru to seek the divine blessings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.