Six franchise teams to battle in Mohali from Aug 30

The new Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will pit six franchise teams against each other in a tightly scheduled calendar. Starting on August 30, each side will play eight league games at the Punjab Cricket Association's Mohali venue, before moving to the semifinals and final.

The franchises are: - Fajilka Falcons (captain Shubman Gill) - Ludhiana Lions (captain Arshdeep Singh) - Amritsar Surmaaz (captain Abhishek Sharma) - Jalandhar Warriors (captain Prabhjot Singh) - Mohali Kings (captain Ramandeep Singh) - Bathinda Royals (captain Gurnoor Barad)

The auction on August 9 will see a pool of more than 450 players, including rising stars such as Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Naman Dheer, Vihaan Malhotra and Imanjot Singh Chahal. The league is positioned as a springboard for local talent and a showcase for Punjab's contribution to Indian cricket, which currently sees 21 state players in the IPL.