SHARJAH: The first edition of the Gulbahar Afghanistan Premier League (APL) T20, powered by Fogg, invested and promoted by Snixer Sports in association with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), has been a great success and has created a space for itself in the cricketing fraternity, the organisers have declared.
Shafiq Stanikzai, the CEO of the ACB and Ashish Sethi, the CEO of Snixer Sports, also members of the governing council of APL T20 optimistic of its grand success in the future.
“It is a very proud moment for us as administrators, players and the entire nation to have a league which is our own and the pride of Afghanistan where we can give opportunities to the youngsters to show their talent and rub shoulders with the best of the world. The best part of the league is that our own domestic players have performed well and the standard of cricket has been very high,” said Mr Stanikzai.
Sethi also looked back at all the hard work and is very happy with the way things have panned out. “I think it was a dream come true. We were living this dream for almost a year and today (Sunday) we feel content and satisfied. It has been a successful league where a lot of records have been created. Players are very happy and everything has gone well,” Sethi said.
For the record, Balkh Legends were crowned champions of the inaugural APL T20. Led by Qais Ahmed’s five-for, Balkh Legends restricted Kabul Zwanan to 132 and then sealed the title with a successful run-chase at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The league has seen some great cricketing action which would be remembered for a long time. Balkh Legends managed to record a total over 240 and then registered a 171-run victory in the semi-final. Hazratullah Zazai smashed a 12-ball half-century and also hit six sixes in an over. There records have helped the APL T20 2018 raise its profile.
“Every league needs an X factor. These records have made it that. The viewership has gone sky high and we have achieved it. We wanted to give a platform for grassroots talent. We are content we have given them more than that. The kind of visibility they have got has been great. It’s been a celebration of cricketing talent,” Sethi explained.
For Stanikzai, this league has meant more as it has helped showcase the Afghan identity to the world, through cricket. “The significant part of this league for the people of Afghanistan, is that we can showcase of true flavour of being Afghan – the hospitality that we are very famous for. Plus, the style of cricket that we play. The people of Afghanistan feel so proud. APL T20 is a stage where they feel proud and they have a product where the best of the world are playing with their own players. Also, domestic coaching staff have been given opportunity to coach along with experienced coaches of the world,” he said.
