League: Cricket
Filmmaker Priyadarshan, along with entrepreneurs Sohan Roy and T. S. Kaladharan, are among the owners of the six franchises selected for the upcoming T20 Kerala Cricket League, organized by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). The league will feature six teams and will take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, starting September 2 2024.
The selected franchisees for the upcoming T20 Kerala Cricket League are:
KCA governing council chairman Nazir Machan stated that the league aims to discover and nurture new talent. KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar highlighted that actor Mohanlal’s involvement as the league’s brand ambassador has generated significant excitement. KCA member P. J. Nawaz also attended the event.
The league will follow the rules and regulations set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Matches will be broadcast on Star Sports 2 and in HD, with plans for digital streaming as well. Over 19 days, including two reserve days, the league will feature 33 matches played by six teams. Only players registered in Kerala will be eligible to compete.
On Friday, the Kerala Cricket Association unveiled the official logo of the Kerala Cricket League at a ceremony. International cricketer and KCL icon Sanju Samson revealed the logo, which was presented in the presence of the team franchises participating in the league. The event also showcased the logo of individual franchises before the official bidding. The auction set to take place on August 10, whereas matches will be held at the Greenfield International Stadium from September 2 to 19.
The auction will be organized into three categories:
Category A: Players with IPL and Ranji Trophy experience, with a base salary of ₹2 lakh.
Category B: C K Naidu, U-23, U-19 State, and U-19 Challengers players, with a base salary of ₹1 lakh.
Category C: U-16 state players, university players, and club cricketers, with a base salary of ₹50,000.
Each player will be auctioned to the highest bidder, and the event will be broadcast live on Star Sports Three and the OTT platform Fancode. Icon players such as P. A. Abdul Basit, Sachin Baby, Mohammad Azharuddin, Basil Thampi, Vishnu Vinod, and Rohan S. Kunnammal have already been selected for the league.