SWABI: The Bravo Swabi Premier League (BSPL) will commence here in the district from Monday, District Cri­cket Association (DCA) Swabi announced on Saturday.

The inaugural ceremony for the league would be held at Gohati Cricket Ground (GCG). Among the prominent international cricketers who would grace the ceremony and also feature in BSPL are dashing Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Umer Amin, Imran Nazir, Khalid Usman and Rafitullah Mohammad.

The other well-known cricketers who will be appearing in the league are Artizaz Habib, Yasir Shah, Imran Khan, Haris Rauf, Rizwan, Adil Amin, Abdul Razaq, Sohail Akhtar, Awais Zia, Umer Gul, Murad Ali of Kuwait and Abdullah Hamdani.

Saifur Rehman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bravo Group of Companies, Malaysia, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

The Gohati ground has already hosted many first class matches. The stadium was constructed keeping in mind the weather conditions in the district.The organisers said that the basic objective of BSPL is to promote cricket in the region and dig out new talent, besides providing an opportunity to the youngsters to display their capability and skills while playing with eminent cricketers. This is a golden opportunity for the young cricketers, they added.

Swabi Deputy Commissioner Salman Lodhi, district police officer, Syed Khalid Hamdani, members of DCA, leaders of political parties, cricketers and lovers of the game would also grace the ceremony.

Aamir Nawab Khan, former member of Pakistan Cricket Board IPCB) governing body and Chairman of BSPL told Dawn that the teams competing in the league belong to different regions and cricket academies.

He said that total seven franchises would participate in the BSPL and it has been planned on the pattern of Pakistan Supper League (PSL).

“The double league system is the pattern on which the BSPL would be played,” he said. “Total 25 matches would be played and the final is scheduled to be held on April 25. All the arrangements for the opening ceremony have been completed.”

In reply to another question, Aamir said that Pakistan is blessed with natural talent, but the cricket bodies of the country should spot that talent, groom them in the national or regional academies and get best out of them. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that full-proof security would be provided to the cricket players by district police and a strategy to control the spectators has also been finalised by district police.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019