VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) will launch the inaugural Andhra T20 League in June this year with a view to give nearly 100 cricketers from Andhra Pradesh the opportunity to experience high-pressure matches.
“We have been in the forefront of ushering in change across the State of Andhra Pradesh by developing high quality infrastructure over the past few years. Now is the time to enable the top rung players experience the intensity of T20 cricket and the fans in six cities the joy of watching franchise-based cricket matches,” Mr. G. V. K. Ranga Raju, ACA President said.
He said ACA is in advanced stage of negotiating with potential franchisees for the cities of Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Godavari, Chittoor, Kadapa and Anantapur. “There has been a great deal of interest from a wide range of Andhra business houses, especially with the matches being broadcast live,” he said.
ACA has already issued tender for the Franchisees Ownership Bids which is available on the association website www.andhracricketassociation.com. The bids are sought from Individuals, Firms, Corporates and Consortiums.
Andhra T20 League will afford the second-rung of the State’s players the opportunity to evolve by interacting, playing and competing with the best cricketers like HanumaVihari, Ricky Bhui, KS Bharath, B Ayyappa, KV Sashikanth and Karn Sharma, he said. “It will ensure that we have players with the experience of dealing with tough match situations ready to step into the shoes of the senior players,” Mr. Ch. Arun Kumar said.
From the spectators’ perspective, the League would be a great source of entertainment. ACA will create a wonderful atmosphere in which fans can watch the contests unfold. “We have taken care to schedule the League games on days on which India is not playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019,” the ACA President said.
ACA plans to make the League an annual affair to ensure its twin objectives of focussing on the development of the sport in the State and taking it to all parts of Andhra Pradesh.
