State Leaders Praise Youth Sports as Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cup Kickoff Nears

The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has publicly lauded the upcoming Sher‑e‑Punjab T20 Cup as a catalyst for youth engagement in sport. Mann’s meeting with the tournament’s players, shared via his social‑media feed, showcased fast bowler Arshdeep Singh and dynamic batsman Abhishek Sharma alongside other aspirants. He affirmed that the state’s fertile cricketing ground continues to feed national teams and that his administration will keep strengthening facilities and support structures for emerging talent. Six franchise squads – hailing from Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali – will compete in 27 matches from 30 August to 13 September at the PCA Cricket Stadium. The player auction on 9 August expects roughly 250 registrations, with about 120 names expected to draw bids. Each franchise can maintain a 20‑player roster under a 45‑lakh‑rupee salary budget. Notable Punjab‑origin internationals such as Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh and Test captain Shubman Gill will feature, adding star power to the league’s round‑robin and subsequent knockout phases.