KPL transforms domestic cricketers into professionals
First time players in the UAE will be paid for playing in a tournament
Dubai: For the first time in the history of UAE's domestic cricket, players will be paid to play in a tournament. The historic move, which will transform every promising domestic cricketer into a professional, is being introduced in the Kerala Premier League (KPL), which was launched at Hotel Armani on Wednesday night.
Shantakumaran Sreesanth, who has emerged as Kerala's most famous international cricketer, was present, along with south Indian superstar Bharat Suresh Gopi and actress Bhama as brand ambassadors of this tournament. The launch was also attended by all the cricket council members, while the tournament is being held under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC).
"Top eight teams representing eight different districts of Kerala have bought the best players in the country. It is a proud moment for cricket in the UAE as local cricketers are now going to be paid to play," said Mohammad Lokhandwala, the secretary of the DCC.
The launch was attended by hundreds of cricket fans, including members and owners of all the teams. The tournament will be held from January 20 to February 24 at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy.
C.T.K. Nasir, one of the directors of KPL, said: "This is the first step to bring in professionalism into UAE cricket."
Each team is to be made up of a minimum of three players from Kerala and the remaining from local talent, with one player below the age of 22 and a maximum of two overseas players. This format is likely to make the event the most competitive tournament ever contested in UAE.
Huge prize money
The prize money for the winners is Dh60,000, which is the highest prize to be offered to a domestic team.
The launch was attended by Waleed Bukhatir, the executive member of the Emirates Cricket Board, and Mazhar Khan, the administrator of ECB.
Sreesanth said: "I wish this tournament becomes as popular as the Indian Premier League one day. It is great to be part of this family of keen cricket-lovers who have launched this event."
The owners of the teams are Biju K. Nair of Spring Academy Trivandrum Royals, Kaladharan of Consolidated Shipping Services Alleppy Ripples, Shiva G Pagarani of Yogi Group Trissur Dynamites, Jahangir of Wedlock Malappuram Knights, Ameen Farooq of Express Money Calicut Zamorins, M.C. Jaleel of Dunes Cuisine Kannur Veterans and Neera and Priya Ramamoorthy of Trotters Wayanad Highlanders.
The tournament will start on January 20 with Alleppy taking on Trivandrum in the first match at the Oval ground.
