Dubai: The UAE will stage the fifth edition of the Kerala Veterans Premier League, under the auspices of the Dubai Cricket Council (DCC), on February 10-11 at the Dubai Sevens ground. This league will be contested by former Kerala state players not only living in Kerala but in the UAE and in different parts of the world.
Veterans and Cricketers Association of Kerala (VCAK) which was formed in 1995 and affiliated to the Board of Veterans Cricket in India are architects of this league.
Jayesh George, the secretary of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), along with Sunil Kumar, secretary of VCAK and former Kerala wicketkeeper Ranjit Thomas, visited the Dubai Seven Ground for pre-tournament arrangements and held discussion with Shiva Pagarani of DCC. Kerala Overseas Cricketers comprising of former Kerala cricketers working in the UAE are responsible for VCAK to stage this year’s edition in Dubai supported by KCA.
The UAE edition will be titled as St Mary’s VPL Dubai as St Mary’s Group of Schools based at Thiruvalla, in Kerala are the title sponsors.
The media partners are Flowers FM 94.7 and Flowers International TV.
For the past four years, VCAK has been successfully conducting the VPL with six teams — Malabar Warriors, JK Malabar Tigers, Kochi Royals, Kochi Muthoot Tuskers, Absolute Sobers and Travancore Panthers. These teams, formed through an auction similar to Indian Premier League, will compete for the title through a T-20 format contest.
Last year the event was conducted at the picturesque Krishnagiri Stadium in Wayanad. The first champions of this league were Kochi Muthoot Tuskers followed by Travancore Panthers in the second edition and JK Malabar Tigers in the third. Absolute Sobers are the defending champions.
VCAK has over 200 members comprising national and international cricketers, celebrities and sports administrators. The VPL promo has renowned Malayalam film actor Mohanlal, who had played cricket alongside some of the veterans during his college days, wishing the event all success.
VCAK had once become winners of the South Zone veterans cricket tournament held in Chennai defeating teams like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Hyderabad. They also went on to become the runners up in the All India Championship held at Ghasiabad losing narrowly to star studded Delhi team after beating fancied teams like Gujarat and Rajasthan.
VCAK organises the Friendship Cup with the support of the KOC, the Veterans Inter Zonal events and also stages outstation tours to Malaysia and Singapore. They also support disabled and help indisposed past cricketers by supporting them financially and honour and acknowledge the performances of the young generation cricketers. VCAK has the support of Kerala Cricket Association and VCAK’s former players work hand-in-hand in all cricket development activities in the state.
