Kashmir Premier League (KPL)

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Afridi launches KPL as AJK

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/inp


INP
December 12, 2020

The Chairman of Kashmir Committee Shehryar Khan Afridi Saturday launched the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) as the first premier cricket tournament of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The objective of the KPL is to initiate a series of cultural and sports events to raise the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir globally.

Flanked by President Azad Jammu & Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan, celebrated cricket icon Shahid Afridi who is also the brand ambassador for KPL, Azhar Mahmood, Chief Coach for KPL, President KPL Arif Malik and Shehzad Akhtar Chaudhry KPL CEO, Shehryar Afridi said that KPL would help put Kashmir on the World Sports Map.

“KPL would put Kashmir on the World Sports Map. We will raise Kashmir on all forums world over. Kashmir Committee would do everything to preserve, project and promote Kashmiri identity and its culture. ‘K’ word is the buzz word now,” he said.
He said Kashmir Premier League has been approved by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), federal government and it has the support of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan.
He said that Pakistani cricketers have become the identity of our country. He said that sports help bring people closer.
“The talent of Kashmiri youth will reach the world through this league. The youth of Kashmir have to show the world how much talent it possessed,” he added.

He said that after the launch of the KPL, its second edition would feature women KPL which would provide a chance to the girls of Kashmir to come forward and play cricket. He said the KPL logo 'play with freedom' will resonate around the world and Pakistan will keep highlighting Kashmir at forums around the world.

Shehryar Afridi also announced to appoint AJK President as Chief Patron of the KPL.

Afridi launches KPL as AJK

The Chairman of Kashmir Committee Shehryar Khan Afridi Saturday launched the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) as the first premier cricket tournament of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of the KPL is to initiate a series of cultural and sports

nation.com.pk

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Squads for KPL 2021

 

[ghazi52]

Ready for the event

Finally, the work of LED flood lights in Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium has been completed.
Six Flood light poles have been installed in stadium.

 

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So far six foreign cricketers including, Gibbs, Matt Prior, Phil Mustard, Owais Shah, Tenu Best and Monty Panser have excused themselves from participating in the KPL.

However, former Sri Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is playing for the Muzaffarabad Tigers, has stood up against Indian pressure and announced to play in the KPL despite boycott threats.

Meanwhile, the federal government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reacted strongly to the development.

In its statement, the PCB said, “The PCB considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League, further threatening they will not be allowed entry into India for cricket-related work.

“Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored.”

The cricket board also vowed to raise this matter at the appropriate ICC forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter.

Federal Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that this is not the first time that Modi's government has put cricket at stake for its nefarious politics.

“The pressure on Gibbs not to participate in the KPL is a continuation of this old practice. We strongly condemn these measures. There will be no harm, only benefit.”

Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri condemned India’s politicisation of cricket, saying, “Depriving young Kashmiri players of the opportunity to share the dressing room with big names in is unfortunate and regrettable.”

The inaugural edition of KPL is set to start from August 6 in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The tournament comprising of six franchises will conclude on August 16.

The T20 league will feature a mix of Pakistan's domestic and international talent.

 

[ghazi52]

The PCB has expressed its displeasure over reports that the BCCI called ICC Full Members in a bid to prevent retired players from those countries from appearing in the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), a new T20 tournament set to take place in Pakistan in August. The PCB said it was a breach of "international norms and the spirit of the gentleman's game by interfering in internal affairs of cricket boards."

The PCB was reacting to a tweet from Herschelle Gibbs - who is expected to play in the league - who said: "Completely unnecessary of the BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the KPL20. Also threatening me saying they won't allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous."

The KPL is a six-team franchise model league, run by private businessmen, but with clearances from the Pakistan government and crucially, approved by the PCB. The tournament will be played at the Muzaffarabad cricket stadium in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, scheduled to start on August 6 with the final on August 17. Each team is named after the cities in the region - Kotli, Bagh, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and one team of overseas players - and the squads were selected through a draft process last month. According to a release by the organisers, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal and Shadab Khan will be captains of the sides.

A raft of retired foreign players had been signed up to play according to organisers, including Monty Panesar, Matt Prior, Phil Mustard, Tino Best, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Gibbs. But a player agent in England informed the KPL management that the BCCI had called up the ECB and Cricket South Africa and told them to withdraw their players from the league, otherwise those players would not be able to work in India.

Kashmir has been the central focus of the dispute - as well as the cause of several wars - between India and Pakistan from the moment India gained independence and Pakistan was created in 1947. Both countries control part of the region but govern it separately. Political and diplomatic ties between the two countries have fluctuated over the years, though they are currently strained. Relations between the two boards generally follow on from the political atmosphere at the time. Several years ago the PCB had mooted the idea of allotting a PSL franchise to Kashmir, though that never materialised.

"The PCB considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League, further threatening they will not be allowed entry into India for cricket-related work," the PCB said in a statement. "Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored. The PCB will raise this matter at the appropriate ICC forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter."
ESPNcricinfo has sent the PCB statement to BCCI secretary Jay Shah and asked for a BCCI response.

The KPL has caused some internal friction as well, with franchises of the Pakistan Super League at one point unhappy that a new PCB-approved T20 league was going ahead and potentially cannibalising the PSL's commercial space. The PSL has become the PCB's showpiece product and the feeling among franchises was that another league, with big domestic names in it, would impact their own commercial rights and sponsor spending. The KPL will be broadcast and have a digital presence, and is attracting considerable local commercial interest.

These apprehensions were expressed to the PCB last month, leading the board's CEO to respond with assurances that they will safeguard the profile and importance of the PSL. Wasim Khan told franchise owners that the PSL remains the premier T20 tournament in the country.

The PCB has not allowed the KPL to run at a time of its own choosing - it was postponed earlier this year to prevent a clash with the PSL. And according to Khan, the PCB will not allow its centrally contracted players to be involved in the KPL, effectively throwing doubts on the participation of Shadab and Usman Qadir. A big chunk of contracted players will anyway be in the West Indies for a two-match Test series.


As well as the country's most prominent players - all of whom play in the PSL as well as the National T20 Cup, Pakistan's other T20 event - the league will be using PCB match officials as well as the services of its anti-corruption unit.

India and Pakistan are set to face off again, this time on the field, at the T20 World Cup in October.

 

[ghazi52]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=862259508017498

 

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'Well within our rights': BCCI on allegation that it's threatening Kashmir league participants

Dawn.com
August 1, 2021


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday responded to allegations made by former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs that it was trying to prevent him from playing the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) 2021, saying that the Indian board was "well within its rights" to do anything in the best interest of its cricketing ecosystem.

Earlier in the day, Gibbs had accused BCCI Secretary Jay Shah of threatening to deny him entry into India if he participated in the upcoming KPL 2021.




Reacting to the development, the PCB had issued a statement that it would "raise this matter at the appropriate ICC forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter".

Responding to Gibbs and the PCB, a BCCI official told Indian news agency ANI: "While one can neither confirm or deny the veracity of the statement made by a former player who has figured in a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) investigation into match-fixing earlier, the PCB must understand that even if Gibb's statement is assumed to be true, the BCCI would be well within their rights to take decisions with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in India.

"The fact that the Indian cricketing ecosystem is the most sought after for cricketing opportunities globally, should not be envied by the PCB."

The BCCI official said the PCB was "confused" and that allowing or disallowing anyone from playing cricket in India was "purely an internal matter" and no different than the restriction on Pakistani-origin players from participating in the Indian Premier League.

On the PCB's intent to take up the issue with the ICC, ANI quoted the official as saying: "They are welcome to raise the matter at the ICC and one can understand where this is coming from but the question that they need to ask themselves is whether it is on account of government interference in their working since the prime minister of Pakistan is officially their patron as per their own constitution. It is time to consider whether this issue also ought to be raised at the ICC."

The official rejected the PCB's statement that the BCCI had "breached international norms and the spirit of the gentleman’s game" and called upon it to examine the ICC's definition of "official cricket".

The Kashmir Premier League T20 2021 is the first edition of the KPL. Of the six teams playing in the inaugural season, five teams are from Azad Kashmir while the sixth one is from outside the region.

The league is the second T20 competition arranged by the PCB after the Pakistan Super League and is set to play from August 6-17 in Muzaffarabad.

 

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified that it has "no jurisdiction" over non-international cricket tournaments, including Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

The ICC issued the statement after reports suggested that BCCI has urged ICC not to recognise the Kashmir Premier League sanctioned by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The KPL is set to commence from August 6 in Muzaffarabad.

A spokesperson of ICC told Geo News, “The tournament is not under ICC’s jurisdiction as it is not an international cricket tournament.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the ICC regulation for the sanctioning of an event, clause 2.1.3, states that each national cricket federation shall have the sole and exclusive right to sanction the staging of domestic matches within its territory.


The ICC can interfere only, according to clause 2.1.4, if matches are to be held in the territory of an associate member's territory.

According to a report by a cricket website, the BCCI letter’s basis is the “disputed status” of the region.

It is worth mentioning that India has played two international matches, against West Indies in 1983 and against Australia in 1986, in the India-occupied city of Srinagar.

Earlier, there were reports, which were validated by a tweet by former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs which confirmed that BCCI was contacting various boards to stop foreign players from participating in the league.

The PCB had expressed displeasure over BCCI’s move.

“The PCB considers that the BCCI has brought the game into disrepute by issuing warnings to multiple ICC Members to stop their retired cricketers from featuring in the Kashmir Premier League, further threatening they will not be allowed entry into India for cricket-related work,”

“Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored,” PCB had said.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar pulls out from Kashmir Premier League due to 'political pressure'

Dawn.com
August 2, 2021

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has pulled out of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) 2021, saying that he could have "face difficulty" in the future if he had participated. — AFP


Former England spinner Monty Panesar has pulled out of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) 2021, citing "political pressure" and "advice" from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that all cricketers who participate in the Kashmir tournament would not be allowed to play in India in the future, it emerged on Monday.

Talking to YouTube channel Sports Yaari, Panesar said the BCCI had "advised" him that if he played in KPL 2021, the "consequences" of his decision could include not being granted a visa to India in the future and not being allowed to work in the country.

"[It is] the start of my sports journalist career, I want to do broadcasting and commentary all over the world. Whatever opportunity or work I get in India, I want to do that. I cannot jeopardise it," the spinner said, adding that he could "face difficulty" after taking such a big decision.

Cricket is "very big" in India and the country has a "strong" cricket board — BCCI — along with a lot of opportunities, Panesar said, while terming participation in the KPL "too risky a decision" for him.

He also addressed the matter on Twitter, saying he had decided not to participate in the tournament because of the "political tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir issues".
"I don't want to be in the middle of this, it would make me feel uncomfortable," he added.


Shoaib Akhtar to be KPL 'peace ambassador'

Meanwhile, former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar announced his decision to become a "peace ambassador" for the Kashmir tournament.
"Why such a fuss between [Kashmir Premier League] & BCCI. It’s about building bridges and promoting peace," he said.


Gibbs' allegations and BCCI's response

Panesar's decision to pull out surfaced days after another international cricketer — South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs — accused the BCCI of attempting to prevent him from participating in the inaugural KPL. He added that the BCCI had also threatened of denying him entry in India if he participated in the league.

"Completely unnecessary of the BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me [from] playing in the KPL," the Proteas great said. "[They are] also threatening me saying they won't allow me entry into India for any cricket-related work. Ludicrous," he tweeted.


Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement, saying it would "raise this matter at the appropriate ICC (International Cricket Council) forum and also reserves the right to take any further action that is available to us within the ICC charter".

The PCB expressed the belief that the BCCI had "breached international norms and the spirit of the gentleman's game" through its interference in the internal affairs of ICC members.

Later on Saturday, the BCCI responded to Gibbs' allegations and the PCB, saying that the Indian board was "well within its rights" to do anything in the best interest of its cricketing ecosystem.

A BCCI official told Indian news agency ANI: "While one can neither confirm or deny the veracity of the statement made by a former player who has figured in a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) investigation into match-fixing earlier, the PCB must understand that even if Gibb's statement is assumed to be true, the BCCI would be well within their rights to take decisions with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in India.

"The fact that the Indian cricketing ecosystem is the most sought after for cricketing opportunities globally, should not be envied by the PCB."

The BCCI official said the PCB was "confused" and that allowing or disallowing anyone from playing cricket in India was "purely an internal matter" and no different than the restriction on Pakistani-origin players from participating in the Indian Premier League.

The Kashmir Premier League T20 2021 is the first edition of the KPL. Of the six teams playing in the inaugural season, five teams are from Azad Kashmir while the sixth one is from outside the region.

The league is the second T20 competition arranged by the PCB after the Pakistan Super League and is set to play from August 6-17 in Muzaffarabad.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Oracle]

it will not be about international players anymore , as india will have upper hand over it.

it will be more about broadcasting rights and coverage.
Pakistan should focus more on broadcasting it online as much as possible.

Once Season 1 will be completed without any issue.... and KPL can become a brand like PSL , only then it can be used to send small messages.

 

[ghazi52]

KARACHI: Aaj News and Aaj Entertainment (Recorder Television Network) will be the Official Media Partners for the team "Mirpur Royals" in the upcoming Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

KPL will kick off from Aug 6, 2021 with a grand opening ceremony of the event to be followed by the first match of the season between Mirpur Royals and Rawalpindi Hawks in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

 

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[ghazi52]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1422946372257517569