Cricket

Cricket's landscape in Kerala is poised for a transformative shift with the launch of the inaugural Kerala Cricket League (KCL) at the Sports Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. This franchise-based T20 league, backed by prominent business houses and film personalities, aims to revolutionize the sport in the state and provide a platform for budding cricketers to showcase their talent on a global stage.The dwindling presence of Kerala players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in recent years and the success of T20 leagues in neighboring states have prompted the Kerala Cricket Association to establish a new league in the state. Six teams – Trivandrum Royals, Aries Kollam Sailors, Alleppey Ripples, Thrissur Titans, Kochi Blue Tigers, and Calicut Globstars – will compete for the coveted title in this cricketing extravaganza. The winner will receive a prize of ₹30 lakh, while the runner-up will take home ₹20 lakh. The third and fourth-placed teams will each receive ₹5 lakh.The opening match of the league will feature Alleppey Ripples, led by the dashing batter Mohammed Azharuddeen, taking on Thrissur Titans, captained by Varun Nayanar. Azharuddeen, as captain and icon player of the Ripples, will be eager to rediscover his mojo in white-ball cricket. Varun, a former Under-19 Indian player, has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the side ahead of the team's icon Vishnu Vinod.The league's most expensive buy, M.S. Akhil, and Mohammed Enaan will be the center of attention when Trivandrum Royals face Kochi Blue Tigers in the second match of the day. The organizers have planned a brief opening ceremony after the first match, with film stars Mohanlal and Keerthy Suresh expected to attend. However, the inclement weather in the city, which has received heavy rainfall in recent days, may pose a challenge to the event.The KCL is expected to provide a much-needed boost to cricket in Kerala. It will offer a platform for young players to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience. The league will also help identify and nurture future stars who can represent the state and the country at the highest level.

Dinesh Karthik, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter, is poised to make history as the first Indian player to participate in the inaugural season of the South African T20 league (SA20). ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that Karthik will join the Paarl Royals franchise as an overseas player when the tournament commences on January 9, 2023.This will mark Karthik's first competitive appearance since announcing his retirement from international cricket in June 2023, on the occasion of his 39th birthday. The former Indian star, who represented his country in 180 international matches, last played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022. He has since been appointed as a mentor-cum-batting coach for the franchise.Karthik is widely regarded as one of the most astute cricket analysts in the T20 format, owing to his extensive experience in the shortest format. He has featured in 401 T20 matches, including stints with six different IPL teams, most notably as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders.Despite his age, Karthik remains one of the fittest players in the game, having missed only two matches in 17 seasons of the IPL. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permits only retired Indian players to participate in overseas T20 leagues.Karthik's signing by the Paarl Royals follows the franchise's announcement of its retained players for the upcoming season. Captain David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, and Andile Phehlukwayo will continue with the team. The Royals reached the Qualifiers in the inaugural SA20 edition but suffered five consecutive defeats, including a nine-wicket loss to the Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator.

The South African T20 league, SA20, will return for its third season in 2025, running from January 9 to February 8. The six-team, 34-game tournament will once again occupy a prominent spot in the global cricket calendar, overlapping with other major leagues such as the Big Bash League, ILT20, and BPL.SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith expressed excitement about the upcoming season, stating that the league aims to "continue to own the South African summer" and provide fans with access to world-class cricket. The fixtures, auction, and player announcements will be revealed in the coming months.The timing of the SA20 could potentially conflict with other international commitments for South Africa. The proposed ODI tri-series in Pakistan, involving South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan, may take place shortly after the SA20 concludes on February 8. The dates for this series and the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan have yet to be officially announced.In previous years, the SA20 has taken precedence over other international tours. In 2023, Cricket South Africa (CSA) prioritized the franchise competition over a Test tour of New Zealand, sending a second-string squad instead. CSA also withdrew from an ODI series in Australia that clashed with the SA20, sacrificing valuable World Cup Super League points.Sunrisers Eastern Cape, owned by the Sun Group, have won both previous seasons of the SA20. They will face stiff competition from last season's runners-up Durban's Super Giants, as well as Pretoria Capitals, Joburg Super Kings, MI Cape Town, and Paarl Royals.The SA20 has quickly established itself as a major force in the global cricket landscape, attracting top players from around the world. The upcoming season promises to deliver another thrilling spectacle of cricket and entertainment for fans in South Africa and beyond.

Major League Cricket (MLC), the burgeoning T20 tournament in the United States, has achieved a significant milestone by securing List A status from the International Cricket Council (ICC). This recognition elevates MLC to the ranks of official T20 leagues, ensuring that tournament records will now be counted as official statistics.The acquisition of List A status is a testament to the growing stature and quality of MLC. Tournament director Justin Geale expressed his excitement, stating that it acknowledges the high caliber of players participating in the league. This recognition will enhance the credibility of cricket in the USA on a global scale and ensure that the performances of world-class players are accurately reflected in their career statistics.MLC's expansion plans are also underway, with the league aiming to increase its number of teams from six to ten over the next two years. The number of games will also increase from 19 in 2023 to 34 by 2025. The league's chief executive, Vijay Srinivasan, believes that the United States has the potential to support a 10-team league.The 2024 edition of MLC will commence on July 5, a week after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. The league's schedule will avoid a direct clash with the Hundred, but there will be a six-day overlap between the two leagues. This overlap could potentially impact the availability of overseas players in the Hundred.Four of the six teams in MLC are owned by IPL team owners, including Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals. The first season of MLC was a success, with MI New York emerging as champions under the leadership of Nicholas Pooran. The second season will be played at the same two grounds as the first season, the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas and the Church Street Park Stadium in Morrisville.