Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] Renowned Malayalam actor Mohanlal officially launched the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) on Saturday, August 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The league, featuring 33 matches, will run from September 2 to 18. Sports Minister V Abdurahiman unveiled the trophy at the event. Mohanlal also serves as the league’s brand ambassador. Other notable attendees included Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president Jayesh George, KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar, and KCL chairman Nazar Machan.
Six teams—Trivandrum Royals, Kochi Blue Tigers, Thrissur Titans, Calicut Globstars, Kollam Sailors, and Alleppey Ripples—will compete for the trophy. According to OnManorama, the inaugural match on September 2 will see Alleppey Ripples face off against Thrissur Titans, followed by Trivandrum Royals versus Kochi Blue Tigers. The final league match is set for September 16, with the semifinals the next day.
In a fan-friendly move, there will be no entry fee for spectators to watch the KCL games live at the stadium. Notably, Kerala’s star cricketer, Sanju Samson, who was named the tournament’s icon player, will miss the inaugural edition. He would have represented Trivandrum Royals, his local franchise. In his absence, P A Abdul Basit, who also plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has been named the icon player for the Royals.