The inaugural Bengal Pro T20 League is set to kick off on June 12, marking the start of an eagerly anticipated cricketing event.
During a recent event at Eden Gardens, Snehasish Ganguly, the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), shared the news while finalizing a three-way agreement with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Ganguly expressed his satisfaction over setting June 12 as the provisional start date for the Bengal Pro T20 League, a project that has been in the works for both men’s and women’s teams. “A significant amount of effort has gone into making this league a reality, and we’re thrilled to see everything coming together for its launch,” he remarked.
He also welcomed the partnership with the Indian Chamber of Commerce, expressing optimism for a lasting collaboration and the success of the tournament. Ganguly hopes that the league will be a platform for uncovering and nurturing cricketing talent from Bengal.
Modeled after the IPL, the Bengal Pro T20 League will feature eight franchise teams competing in both men’s and women’s categories, promising an exciting addition to the cricket calendar.
Bengal Pro T20 League: Everything you need to know about India’s new T20 tournament
Several state associations have previously hosted their own T20 tournaments for men, with notable examples including the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Karnataka’s Maharaja Trophy, and the Uttar Pradesh T20 League.
According to a report by PTI, discussions have been underway between the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and several prominent entities such as Kolkata Knight Riders, the owners of Lucknow Super Giants, Bandhan Bank, Shrachi Group, and Rashmi Cement to secure team ownerships for the upcoming league.
Furthermore, CAB plans to introduce a dedicated Women’s T20 and One-Day Club Tournament. This move is aimed at fostering and developing female cricketing talent within West Bengal, indicating a broad commitment to supporting cricket across both genders.
Bengal Pro T20 League Schedule
The Bengal Pro T20 League is scheduled to unfold over a 21-day period from 12th June 2024. This exciting cricket tournament will feature ten teams each in both the men’s and women’s categories. In a packed schedule designed to maximize cricket action, each day will host double-header matches. The women’s matches are set for the morning and early afternoon slots, while the men’s games will take place later in the afternoon and extend into the evening. This structure ensures a full day of competitive cricket, offering fans ample opportunity to enjoy the games.
Bengal Pro T20 League Format
The Bengal Pro T20 tournament adopts a league-and-knockout format, ensuring a competitive structure that leads to a total of 31 games for each category, both men’s and women’s teams. This approach promises an engaging series of matches, where teams will first compete in the league phase for positioning before progressing to the knockout stages, culminating in the ultimate showdown for the championship.
To uphold the integrity and fairness of the competition, the tournament’s rules and regulations are designed to mirror those of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This includes strict adherence to anti-corruption guidelines among other measures, ensuring a transparent and fair playing environment for all participants.
Bengal Pro T20 League Teams
According to Wisden, in the inaugural season of the league, eight franchises will compete, each named after different cities and districts within West Bengal. The structure of the teams is carefully curated to foster local talent: men’s teams will comprise 17 players each, while women’s teams will include 16 players. A distinctive feature of this tournament is that all players, as well as the coaches, must hail from Bengal, ensuring a platform dedicated exclusively to showcasing and nurturing the cricketing talent from the region.
Bengal Pro T20 League Venues
The Bengal Pro T20 tournament will feature iconic venues for its matches, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere for both players and fans. The men’s matches are set to take place at the historic Eden Gardens and the women’s matches will be held at the Jadavpur University ground.
Bengal Pro T20 League Live Streaming Details
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has announced that the men’s matches will be broadcasted live on a leading sports channel. On the other hand, the women’s matches will be available for live streaming on as OTT platform.
When will the Bengal Pro T20 League start?
The Bengal Pro T20 League will start from 12th June 2024.
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