Punjab Newsline | New Chandigarh
Punjab took a significant step towards strengthening its cricketing ecosystem with the official launch of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday. Scheduled to be held from August 30 to September 13, the tournament aims to provide young cricketers with a professional platform while allowing them to share the field with some of India’s biggest cricket stars.
The announcement was made by Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and PCA President Amarjeet Singh Mahita in the presence of Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh. The event also witnessed the unveiling of the league’s official logo.
The inaugural edition will feature six franchise teams competing in 27 high-voltage matches in a round-robin format. The tournament will showcase leading Indian cricketers, including Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, alongside Punjab’s emerging talent. Every franchise will have one marquee player and at least two icon players, ensuring a perfect blend of international experience and local potential.
Speaking at the launch, Shubman Gill described the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League as an excellent platform for young cricketers to display their skills and move closer to representing Punjab and India. He said Punjab has consistently produced world-class cricketers and expressed confidence that the league would help identify the next generation of stars.
PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said the league is a visionary initiative of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aimed at giving aspiring cricketers a professional environment to develop their talent. He noted that Punjab has made immense contributions to Indian cricket—from legends like Lala Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh to current stars such as Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, and Harmanpreet Kaur. According to him, the new league has the potential to become one of India’s premier domestic T20 competitions.
PCA President Amarjeet Singh Mahita said the tournament would provide young players with a rare opportunity to share dressing rooms with international cricketers and gain valuable exposure in a highly competitive environment. He expressed confidence that the league would play a crucial role in shaping the future of Punjab cricket.
The player auction will be held on August 9, where franchises representing Amritsar, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda will build their squads. Each franchise can spend up to ₹45 lakh and sign a maximum of 20 players. The marquee player has been priced at ₹10 lakh, while the base price for an icon player has been fixed at ₹1.50 lakh. Separate base prices have also been set for Punjab’s first-class, Under-23, Under-19, and district-level cricketers, ensuring opportunities across all levels of the state’s cricketing structure.
