5 days Ago
Vadodara: Barodians are in for a T20 cricketing bonanza this year, as the city gears up to host its first domestic T20 league, modelled on the Indian Premier League (IPL), at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has announced the launch of the Baroda Premier League (BPL) to provide a platform for talented young cricketers to showcase their skills. "The BPL will be an exciting tournament.
We have investors for the teams, and the tournament schedule is ready," said Pranav Amin, BCA president. The BPL will kick off on June 15, shortly after the conclusion of the IPL in May, with the finals scheduled for June 29. Five teams will compete across 24 matches in this day-and-night tournament, which has received the necessary permissions from the BCCI.
According to BCA officials, five franchises — Ami Life Science, Vishv Enterprise, Nirayu, Darshanam, and Awesome Four — have acquired the teams. However, unlike the IPL, the team owners will not be selecting players of their choice. Instead, the BCA will allocate players among the teams to maintain a balanced distribution of talent.
Officials said that for the first two years, the BCA will monitor team performances and individual players' growth. Based on these observations, they will later assign valuations to teams and players, paving the way for an IPL-style auction model. "We don't want to undervalue the teams, so we have decided to wait for two years before adopting the IPL model," a BCA official explained.
A private firm has been appointed to market and organize the 15-day tournament, which is expected to be live-streamed on OTT platforms and broadcast on television channels. All players registered with the BCA — from Under-19 to senior levels — will be eligible to participate, ensuring that each team fields a mix of seasoned and emerging players. "Those who perform well in the BPL could catch the eye of IPL franchises.
Teams will be scouting the BPL for young and talented cricketers," BCA management said..
