| Countries | |
|---|---|
| Format | T20 |
| First edition | 2024 |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Website | www |
Sindh Premier League (Sindhi:سنڌ پريميئر ليگ;Urdu: سندھ پریمیئر لیگ;abbreviated asSPL) is a professionalTwenty20 cricket league contested by six teams representing six cities ofSindhprovince inPakistan. It was launched in 2023.[1][2][3]
In June 2022,Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, the provincial minister of local government in an effort to promote and develop[4][5]cricket inSindh,[5] announced that there would be a domestic cricket team for Sindh soon inspired by theKashmiri counterpart.[6] In March of the next year, a launching ceremony for the team was held in the auditorium ofSindh Assembly and the guests includedShahid Afridi andAbdul Razzaq. The first season of the league will be played in Karachi.[7] In the same month of March the league was officially launched and finalized. The launch ceremony was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sindh[8] in Karachi[9] and attended by dignitaries including the provincial ministersSharjeel Memon andSaeed Ghani, Advisor Law BarristerMurtaza Wahab, and former captain ofPakistan cricket teamSarfraz Ahmed.[10] Former Pakistani cricketerShahid Afridi announced to be the league's firstbrand ambassador.[8]
The league is said to commence from September 19, 2023.[11][12][13]
There were originally seven teams consisting the league.
| Team | City | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karachi Ghazis[14] | Karachi | 2023 | |
| Hyderabad Bahadurs | Hyderabad | 2023 | |
| Sukkur Patriots | Sukkur | 2023 | |
| Larkana Challengers | Larkana | 2023 | |
| Benazirabad Lals | Benazirabad | 2023 | |
| Mirpurkhaas Tigers | Mirpurkhas | 2023 | |
| Khairpur Royals(squad not announced)[15] | Khairpur | 2023 | |
The league is set to be broadcast on its officialYouTube channel.[8]
The league came under severe criticism for not having sufficient presence of Sindhi players. Several journalists noted that the league was intended to promote Sindhi players but majority of the team squads did not have any Sindhi players. A journalist also pointed out that Mirpurkhaas Tigers did not have a single player that belonged to the city of Mirpurkhaas.[8]