The trophy of CM Punjab Champions League was unveiled at colorful ceremony at the E-Library, Nishtar Sports Complex on Saturday.
Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar attended the ceremony as the chief guest. The minister officially unveiled the tournament trophy alongside Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed and the captains of all 12 participating men's teams. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the official logos of all participating teams.
The event was also attended by Vice Chairman Sports Board Punjab Salman Malik, Secretary Sports Punjab Fazal-ur-Rehman, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Senior General Manager Domestic Cricket Osama Sharoon, Hamdan Nazir from Pakistan Railways, Behzad Anwar from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar, national cricketers Usman Qadir, Irfan Niazi, Hassan Nawaz, Sidra Amin, Amber Parvaiz, Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas and Gul Rukh.
Addressing the grand ceremony, Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the Punjab government, under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is transforming Punjab into the country's sports hub by creating world-class opportunities for athletes.
He said the CM Punjab Champions League would feature 12 men's and four women's teams, with matches scheduled to be played in Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The tournament will commence on August 3, while the final will be played on August 9 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that several national and internationally renowned cricketers would participate in the league, providing emerging players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside established stars and showcase their talent. “All players had been selected strictly on merit through a transparent selection process, adding that every match of the tournament would be played under day-night conditions and broadcast live to cricket fans across the country”.
Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said the Pakistan Cricket Board is the league's official partner and will provide umpires, match referees and scorers to ensure the event is conducted in accordance with the highest professional standards. “Punjab Sports department is going to organize CM Punjab Youth Games in which 50 lakh athletes are expected to participate”.
Highlighting the Punjab government's commitment to sports development, Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the provincial government is organising 18 major sports events during the year as part of its broader vision to promote sporting excellence. "Our mission is to provide every young person with an opportunity to play and every talented athlete with a platform to excel," he said, adding that Punjab is rapidly moving towards producing athletes capable of competing at the highest international level.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said that CM Punjab Champions League is first of its kind event in the country’s history. “The main objective of this league is to identify talent from grassroots level”.
He said that all provinces were asked to organize their respective provincial cup cricket tournaments and again Punjab took the lead over the other provinces by holding CM Punjab Champions League.
Sumair Syed reaffirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board's commitment to working closely with the Government of Punjab and Sports Board Punjab for the promotion of cricket. He said the CM Punjab Champions League would serve as an excellent platform for emerging cricketers to demonstrate their abilities. He further stated that PCB is the official partner of the league and will provide umpires, match referees, scorers and other match officials to ensure the tournament is conducted according to the highest professional standards.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi said that Sports Board Punjab is fully committed to providing world-class sporting opportunities to young athletes in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He added that the CM Punjab Champions League will not only promote cricket but will also provide talented players from across Punjab with an outstanding opportunity to display their skills at the highest level.
Men's following 12 teams are participating in the league: Lahore Lions, Bahawalpur Nawabs, Faisalabad Hawks, Sargodha Shaheens, Rawalpindi Panthers, Gujranwala Warriors, Gujrat Thunder, Lahore Strikers, Dera Ghazi Khan Titans, Lahore Tigers, Multan Mavericks and Sahiwal Stallions.