ACA warns players against unauthorised tournaments as Andhra Premier League expands to three venues
Visakhapatnam, June 9
The Andhra Cricket Association has issued a stern advisory to all its registered cricketers, warning them against participating in unauthorized tournaments and private matches without prior approval, even as preparations gather pace for the fifth edition of the Andhra Premier League.
In a statement, the ACA reminded players that participation in unapproved events could invite disciplinary action.
"An Important Advisory for all ACA Registered Players. The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has issued a formal reminder: all registered players are strictly prohibited from participating in any unauthorised cricket tournaments or private matches (including tennis ball cricket leagues) without obtaining prior written approval from the ACA."
The statement further stressed the need for players to adhere to the association's regulations.
"Please ensure full compliance to maintain your professional standing with the Association. Unauthorised participation will be treated as a violation of professional discipline and may result in strict disciplinary action."
This comes at a time when the ACA intends to fortify its structure of cricket with the conduct of the Andhra Premier League, and for the first time this year, the event is set to take place in three different venues.
Addressing a press conference held at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Monday, Chairman of APL Governing Council Sujay Krishna Rangarao said, "The conduct of the tournament across three venues has to be seen as a reflection of the determination of the ACA to bolster the game of cricket across the state."
He added, "The idea of a league structure is to strengthen the ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh cricket and to develop young talent." Rangarao announced that Visakhapatnam will host games between June 9 and June 14, while Kadapa will host matches between June 17 and June 21, with Mangalagiri hosting the last lot from June 24 to June 30. It has indeed been a major shift from previous editions, where a single venue hosted the entire competition.
The ACA is hoping to reach out to as many grounds as possible in the next few years with a long-term vision to make Andhra cricket more robust.
The official launch of APL 2026 will be inaugurated by an opening ceremony at 6 p.m., which will be presided over by the Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some real development for Andhra cricket! 🙌 APL going multi-venue is awesome. I hope this means more grounds will get upgraded and young cricketers from districts get proper exposure. The warning is necessary—players need to prioritize professional cricket over random private matches.
I understand the need to control unauthorized tournaments, but completely banning tennis ball cricket leagues is too much. Those leagues are the only platform for many players from rural areas. ACA should monitor rather than prohibit. Arthika samasyalu unna players ki it's hard to survive without those matches.
As someone who follows Indian cricket closely, I think this is a smart move by ACA to professionalize the sport. The expansion to three venues is impressive—it shows they're serious about grassroots development. The warning might seem strict, but it's about protecting players' careers in the long run.
APL is growing, but the real challenge is whether these three venues have proper facilities. Visakhapatnam is fine, but Kadapa and Mangalagiri? Let's hope the infrastructure is up to mark. Also, the warning about unauthorized tournaments feels like ACA trying to control everything—players aren't machines. 🤔
Love the ambition here! Expanding to three venues and aiming for more in the future is exactly what cricket needs in India outside the big centers. The advisory is standard practice in professional leagues worldwide—players need to be committed to the system. Good luck to APL!
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