Sanju Samson unveils logo for inaugural Kerala Cricket League; Player auction to take place on August 10
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) unveiled the official logo of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) on Friday, August 9. Icon player Sanju Samson unveiled the logo in a ceremony with the participating franchises present.
The inaugural season will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium from September 2 to 19. 168 players will enter the auction with the six franchises drafting up to 20 players per side.
Apart from the League logo, the franchise logos were also revealed during the event.
The statement released by the KCA as quoted by Hindustan Times said:
"The player auction for the Kerala Cricket League is scheduled for Saturday, at the Hyatt Regency, starting at 10 AM. The auction briefing was conducted by the renowned Charu Sharma, followed by a mock auction to familiarize the franchises with the process."
It added:
"Fans can look forward to two thrilling games each day, including day and night matches. The league will officially be launched by the legendary actor and KCL brand ambassador, Mohanlal, on 31st August 2024, at 12 noon at the Hyatt Regency."
The KCL comes on the heels of the successes of various state T20 leagues around India.
Player Auctions divided into three categories
The League already confirmed their six icon players for the tournament, namely P A Abdul Basit, Sachin Baby, Mohammad Azharuddin, Basil Thambi, Vishnu Vinod, and Rohan S Kunnammal.
The players in the auction featuring in the IPL and Ranji Trophy will have a base price of ₹2 lakh.
The KCA statement read:
"The auction will be divided into three categories: Category A: Featuring players with IPL and Ranji Trophy experience, with a base salary of ₹ 2 Lakh. Category B: Comprising C K Naidu, U-23, U-19 State, and U-19 Challengers players, with a base salary of ₹ 1 Lakh. Category C: For U-16 state players, university players, and club cricketers, with a base salary of ₹ 50,000."
The participating teams of the KCL are Trivandrum Royals, Kollam Sailors, Alleppey Ripples, Kochi Blue Tigers, Thrissur Titans, and Calicut Globestars.