Chandigarh, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said the Punjab Government is committed to making the state the sports hub of the country, while asserting that the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League has created a major platform for emerging cricketers to showcase their talent.
Mann attended the closing ceremony of the two-week-long league at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali and interacted with players from the participating teams. He said the tournament had helped bring promising cricketers from Punjab’s villages, towns and cities into the spotlight.
“The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League has been organised for the first time by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). This prestigious tournament has provided a platform to emerging cricketers of Punjab,” Mann said.
He congratulated the PCA and all participating teams for successfully conducting the league and expressed hope that the initiative would continue in the coming seasons.
“As many as 119 players from Punjab showcased their talent and skills during this league,” the Chief Minister said, adding that several of them could go on to represent Punjab and India in the future.
Mann pointed out that Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams are currently led by Punjab’s Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively. He also said 21 players from Punjab are presently playing in the IPL.
Talent scouts and selectors from various IPL teams attended matches during the league, he said, expressing hope that more players would secure IPL opportunities.
Highlighting the league’s early impact, Mann said Punjab cricketers Naman Dhir and Prabhsimran Singh had been selected for the India A team. He also announced that the Player of the Tournament would be honoured with the Yuvraj Singh Award.
Describing the league as more than a cricket tournament, Mann said it was an initiative to identify, nurture and promote cricketing talent across Punjab and provide young players with a pathway to higher levels of the sport.
“The young cricketers who have showcased their talent here will go on to bring greater glory to Punjab and the country,” he said.
The final was played between Amritsar Surmaaz and Ludhiana Lions. Six teams participated in the inaugural league: Fazilka Falcons, led by Shubman Gill; Ludhiana Lions, led by Arshdeep Singh; Amritsar Surmaaz, led by Abhishek Sharma; Jalandhar Warriors, led by Prabhsimran Singh; Mohali Kings, led by Ramandeep Singh; and Bathinda Royals, led by Gurnoor Brar.
Players including Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Vihaan Malhotra, Imanjot Singh Chahal, Ashwani Kumar, Krish Bhagat, Sahil Bhaskar and Rahul Kumar also featured in the tournament.
Lok Sabha MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and other dignitaries were present at the closing ceremony.
Mann, in a post on X, said the league, which began on August 30, had provided young cricketers from Punjab with an excellent platform to display their abilities. He said efforts to revive Punjab’s sporting culture and reconnect young people with sports grounds would continue.
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