"Assam has waited a long time for a platform of its own:" ACA President Taranga Gogoi ahead of inaugural APL auction
Guwahati, July 13
About a week from now, 275 cricketers from across Assam will learn which of eight franchises they will play for when the Assam Premier League holds its first-ever player auction on July 19 at the 91 Yards Club, ACA Stadium, Guwahati.
The marquee list of 20 players carries the weight of Assam's senior domestic circuit. Denish Das, Sibsankar Roy, Sumit Kashyap, Swarupam Purkayastha and Jitumoni Kalita lead the batting and all-round options, while Mrinmoy Dutta, Muktar Hussain, Avinav Choudhary, Rahul Singh, Sadak Hussain and Bhargab Pratim Lakhar headline the bowling group, according to a press release.
Assam Cricket Association President Taranga Gogoi said the player auction on 19 July marks the true beginning of the league, with cricketers from across Assam set to be drafted by one of eight teams.
He expressed hope that, when the tournament starts on 1 August, fans across the state will embrace it as their own, making the inaugural season a memorable milestone for Assam cricket.
Taranga Gogoi, President, Assam Cricket Association, said: "The auction on 19 July is the day this league becomes real for our players. Cricketers from every district of Assam have put their names forward, and in a week they will know which of the eight teams they will represent. When the first match is played on 1st August, we want every fan in the state to feel that this league belongs to them. Assam has waited a long time for a platform of its own, and we intend to make the first season one to remember."
Saahil Jain, Pradyun Saikia and Saurav Mousum Dihingia add depth to the batting pool, Abdul Ajij Kuraishi, Akash Sengupta and Ayushman Malakar bring all-round strength, and Sumit Ghadigaonkar, Rohit Sen and Ruhinandan Pegu are the wicketkeeping choices.
All 20 have played BCCI tournaments for Assam and are expected to draw the strongest bidding when the eight franchises build their squads for the inaugural season, which gets underway on August 1.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is brilliant for grassroots development. Assam has always had cricketing potential but lacked infrastructure and exposure. ACA seems to be taking the right steps - an APL will create jobs, inspire kids, and maybe even unearth the next Bishnoi or Rituraj from the state.
About time! We've seen how state leagues transformed Bihar, Uttarakhand, Puducherry. Assam deserves the same. Hope the tournament is well-organized, matches are telecast, and fans in Guwahati support it wholeheartedly. One suggestion though - they should involve local colleges and schools to build buzz.
Good initiative but I hope the money doesn't spoil the spirit of the game. These leagues can sometimes become too commercial. Let the focus be on actual cricket and player development, not just brand endorsements and celebrity appearances. Praying for transparency in auctions.
So exciting! My son has been playing cricket at the district level and this gives him hope. Even if he doesn't get picked this year, just knowing there's a professional league in the state is motivating. Kudos to ACA for making this happen. Assam cricket zindabad! 🙌🌈
I just hope the auctions don't end up with big city players getting all the attention while rural talents are ignored. The key is to scout from all 33 districts, not just Guwahati. Also, please make matches affordable and accessible - not everyone can afford premium tickets.
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