Lahore: The trophy of the CM Punjab Champions League was unveiled at a colourful ceremony held at the E-Library, Nishtar Sports Complex, on Saturday, with Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar declaring the tournament would become Pakistan’s biggest cricket event after the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The sports minister unveiled the trophy alongside Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed and captains of all 12 participating men’s teams. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the official logos of the participating teams.
Addressing the ceremony, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was transforming the province into the country’s sports hub by creating world-class opportunities for athletes.
He said the tournament would feature 12 men’s and four women’s teams, with matches to be played in Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The league will commence on August 3, while the final will be played on August 9 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The minister said several national and internationally renowned cricketers would participate in the competition, giving emerging players an opportunity to play alongside established stars. He added that all players had been selected purely on merit through a transparent process and that every match would be played under floodlights and broadcast live.
Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Pakistan Cricket Board was the league’s official partner and would provide umpires, match referees, scorers and other match officials to ensure the tournament was conducted according to professional standards.
He also announced that the Punjab Sports Department would organise the CM Punjab Youth Games, with around five million athletes expected to participate.
Highlighting the provincial government’s sports development agenda, the minister said Punjab planned to organise 18 major sporting events during the year to promote sporting excellence and provide talented youth with opportunities to excel at the national and international levels.
Speaking on the occasion, PCB Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed termed the CM Punjab Champions League the first event of its kind in the country’s history, saying its primary objective was to identify and nurture cricket talent at the grassroots level. He said the PCB had encouraged all provinces to organise provincial cricket competitions, adding that Punjab had taken the lead by launching the CM Punjab Champions League. He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to working closely with the Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab for the promotion of cricket.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said the Sports Board Punjab was committed to providing world-class sporting opportunities in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He said the league would not only promote cricket but also provide talented players from across Punjab with an excellent platform to showcase their skills.
The men’s competition will feature 12 teams: Lahore Lions, Bahawalpur Nawabs, Faisalabad Hawks, Sargodha Shaheens, Rawalpindi Panthers, Gujranwala Warriors, Gujrat Thunder, Lahore Strikers, Dera Ghazi Khan Titans, Lahore Tigers, Multan Mavericks and Sahiwal Stallions.