GUWAHATI: A total of 275 players will go under the hammer in the upcoming Assam Premier League (APL) auction, set to be held on July 19 at the Barsapara Stadium. At the auction, franchises will select players to form their respective squads.
ALSO READ: Guwahati Floods After Heavy Rain, IMD Predicts More Showers Till July 14
The inaugural edition of the league will feature eight franchises representing different regions of the state: Jorhat Stallions, Tezpur Titans, Dibrugarh Warriors, Barak Legends, Nagaon Rangers, Barpeta Braves, Guwahati Royals and Charaideo Sunrisers.
“The League will serve as a premier platform for showcasing cricketing talent and will also play a significant role in the identification and selection of players for the forthcoming BCCI domestic season,” the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) said in a statement. ACA said further details will be communicated in due course.
The ACA announced the launch of the Assam Premier League (APL) on June 21. Modelled on the IPL, the tournament is scheduled to be held from August 1 to August 23 at the Barsapara Stadium.
The league will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar. APL has been conceived not as a commercial venture but as a platform to discover and nurture fresh talent.
During the official launch of the league, BCCI Secretary Devajit Lon Saikia made it clear that the success of the APL would not be measured by revenue or commercial returns, but by the number of young cricketers it inspires and the sustainable careers it creates.
"We have very clearly told you that this is not a commercial venture," Saikia told the owners of the eight APL franchises. "You cannot expect returns on your investment in the way IPL franchise owners do. This is not a platform for commercial activities. It has essentially been conceived to promote the game."
Speaking at the launch of the APL at the 91Yards Club in Barsapara, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed hope that the tournament would become a platform for discovering hidden talent and preparing players for both the IPL and the Indian national team.