Prominent international cricketers set to take part in inaugural Kashmir Premier League

The Kashmir Premier League which is scheduled to be played from between August 6 and 16 has a total of 6 teams playing. Bagh Stallions, Mirpur Royals, Muzaffarabad Tigers, Overseas Warriors, Kotli Lions, and Rawalakot Hawks are the six sides that will be battling it out against each other in the league. Ahead of the start of this league, some key names have been selected to feature in the inaugural edition.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Matt Prior, and Monty Panesar are a few of the prominent cricketers that are set to take the charge of the field in the KPL. Shadab Khan, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed would be part of Bagh Stallions with Shadab leading the side. Owais Shah, Sharjeel Khan, Khushdil Shah, and Mohammad Irfan are picked up by the Shoaib Malik-led Mirpur Royals.

Some of the other remarkable names include Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir, and Sohaib Maqsood whereas the former Sri Lanka opening batter Tilakaratne Dilshan was roped in by Muzaffarabad Tigers. Monty Panesar the former England left-arm spinner will play for the Fakhar Zaman-led Kotli Lions whereas Kamran Akmal, Asif Ali, and leg-spinner Usman Qadir are the other names included by the Kotli Lions in the squad.

Matt Prior, the former England wicket-keeper batsman, will offer his services for the Rawalakot Hawks which is to be captained by Shahid Afridi. While Mohammad Hasnain, Ahmed Shahzad, and Hussain Talat will also be part of the same franchise. Skippered by Imad Wasim, the Overseas warriors will have the South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs playing for them, with Haider Ali and Azam Khan too making it to the squad.

The role of KPL to bring Kashmir cricketers to the limelight

The Kashmir Premier League’s prime objective is to fan the fires of talent that the Kashmiri players possess. This can play a pivotal role in helping Kashmir to put itself on the sporting map. Shehryar Khan Afridi, the Chairman of the Kashmir Committee, had previously stated that “sports is the best form to help in the transformation of any part of the world and we have seen how individual sportsmen have transformed their countries globally.”

Opening up further on the positives that this league will bring in for Kashmir he asserted, “KPL would help put Kashmir at the global sports map and added, the League will become a buzz word globally as KPL would promote Kashmir at the highest level,” as reported by International The News.