KARACHI: The first-ever Karachi Tapeball Premier League (KTPL) is all set to roll into action on Saturday here at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium.
An eight-team tournament will catch the major limelight in the country’s cricket fraternity as it joins hands with few of the biggest international cricket stars including Pakistan’s former Test captain Javed Miandad (president), Haroon Rasheed, Tauseef Ahmed and Sadiq Mohammad (senior vice-presidents).
The tournament will start with a glittering opening ceremony in which Pakistan’s popular singer Sahir Ali Bagga will perform.
The list of competitive franchises includes FB Fighters, Clifton Ghazi, DHA Dabang, Lyari Legends, North Nawab, Gulshan Gohar, Malir Malangs, and Johar Jawans. The strong squads, under the captaincy of international cricketers including Hassan Raza, Mohammad Sami, and Shabbir Ahmed, are ready to lock horns in a much-awaited 16-day tournament that concludes on 16th January.
KTPL’s chairman Zohair Naseer is confident that the league will introduce a whole different map of tape ball cricket in the country. “We have come up with this exclusive idea of introducing tape ball cricket at such a high level. I am sure, nobody has ever seen such type of tournament played by a tennis ball,” he said.
“Cricketers like Javed Miandad, Haroon Rasheed, Tauseef Ahmed, and Sadiq Mohammad are the real faces of this league’s success. I hope that we make this league successful and give our youth ample opportunities through this platform,” he added.
KTPL’S President, Javed Miandad also expressed his excitement to see this fun-cum-nervous form of the game. “I am happy to see tape ball getting a platform to show its unique colors to cricket fans across the country. I must congratulate KTPL’s management for this wonderful initiative and I pray for its success,” the former captain said.
Remember, President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi launched KPTL in a grand ceremony held at President’s House last month. On the occasion, President Alvi congratulated KTPL’s management and assured all-out support for tape ball cricket.
