The player-draft for the first-ever Kashmir Premier League (KPL) is scheduled to take place on the 10th of February at an orphanage named Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) in Jhari Kass, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The president of KPL Arif Malik has told the media personnel that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already issued the NOC for the league to take place in late March.
“We are planning to hold the player draft in the company of orphans of KORT. Since the main purpose of the league is to promote the Kashmir cause so our efforts would be to take it as close as possible to the Kashmiri people. There is no better place than the orphanage to hold the draft as they really need our support. Definitely, the orphans would be feeling proud to find themselves amongst the legends of the game,” Arif said.
It has been reported that more than 150 players from Pakistan are available for the draft whereas it also includes some of the top domestic performers of the country.
“All the leading players who are part of the PSL VI would be available for the draft.” President Arif Malik clarified.
He also made it clear that foreign players aren’t going to be available in the first season of the KPL however; they can be included later on in the next seasons.
“We have decided against inviting any foreign cricketer in the first edition of the KPL. However, we are interested to include foreign players in the second edition to be held next year. We had been getting very encouraging response from the foreign players but we have deferred the matter for the next year.” he added.
Arif also hopes for full support from the federal government and from the government of AJK as well. Also, he's planning to take the KPL to England in the near future.
“We hope the league would prove a real success right from the start. The AJK government would also be there to extend the support to the league. The KPL has no political motive so what we want is to popularize the game in AJK and spot out real talent for future national and international events.” he said.
“Chances are there that we may take the KPL semi-finals and final to the UK where Kashmiris outnumber all other communities present there. The idea of taking the league to offshore is being discussed with the stakeholders.” Malik concluded.
Shoaib Malik has been named as icon player for Mirpur Royals, Shahid Afridi for Muzaffarabad Tigers, Mohammad Hafeez for Kotli Panthers, Sarfaraz Ahmed as icon player for Oversees Warriors. Mohammad Amir is also in negotiation with the Bagh team as an icon player for the KPL.
The president of KPL Arif Malik has told the media personnel that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already issued the NOC for the league to take place in late March.
“We are planning to hold the player draft in the company of orphans of KORT. Since the main purpose of the league is to promote the Kashmir cause so our efforts would be to take it as close as possible to the Kashmiri people. There is no better place than the orphanage to hold the draft as they really need our support. Definitely, the orphans would be feeling proud to find themselves amongst the legends of the game,” Arif said.
It has been reported that more than 150 players from Pakistan are available for the draft whereas it also includes some of the top domestic performers of the country.
“All the leading players who are part of the PSL VI would be available for the draft.” President Arif Malik clarified.
He also made it clear that foreign players aren’t going to be available in the first season of the KPL however; they can be included later on in the next seasons.
“We have decided against inviting any foreign cricketer in the first edition of the KPL. However, we are interested to include foreign players in the second edition to be held next year. We had been getting very encouraging response from the foreign players but we have deferred the matter for the next year.” he added.
Arif also hopes for full support from the federal government and from the government of AJK as well. Also, he's planning to take the KPL to England in the near future.
“We hope the league would prove a real success right from the start. The AJK government would also be there to extend the support to the league. The KPL has no political motive so what we want is to popularize the game in AJK and spot out real talent for future national and international events.” he said.
“Chances are there that we may take the KPL semi-finals and final to the UK where Kashmiris outnumber all other communities present there. The idea of taking the league to offshore is being discussed with the stakeholders.” Malik concluded.
Shoaib Malik has been named as icon player for Mirpur Royals, Shahid Afridi for Muzaffarabad Tigers, Mohammad Hafeez for Kotli Panthers, Sarfaraz Ahmed as icon player for Oversees Warriors. Mohammad Amir is also in negotiation with the Bagh team as an icon player for the KPL.
