Uttarakhand Premier League unveils teams and owners ahead of inaugural season

UPT20. (Photo Source: Source: Uttarakhand Premier League)

Dehradun (Uttarakhand), 31 August 2024: At a grand ceremony held in Dehradun on Saturday, the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) and organizers SSPARK Sports and Entertainment unveiled the eagerly anticipated teams set to compete in the inaugural season of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL). With five men’s teams and three women’s teams competing for the crowns to become the inaugural UPL champions, Mahim Verma (Secretary, CAU) introduced the team owners and revealed the founding teams of the competition.

The five men’s teams, representing the varied and talented regions of Uttarakhand, are as follows:

1. Dehradun Warriors – Owned by Shailendra Bhadauria
2. Haridwar Spring Elmas – Owned by Fiyajuddin
3. Nainital SG Pipers – Owned by Dr. Rohan Gupta
4. Pithoragarh Hurricane – Owned by Parkash Singh & Krishna Shetty
5. Udham Singh Nagar Indians – Owned by Subhash Arora

The three women’s teams, who will play a crucial role in providing more opportunities and elevating the interest in women’s sport across the state, are:

1. Mussoorie Thunders – Owned by Parkash Singh
2. Nainital SG Pipers – Owned by Dr. Rohan Gupta
3. Pithoragarh Hurricane – Owned by Krishna Shetty

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These teams not only represent the spirit and passion of their respective cities but also embody the pride of the entire state of Uttarakhand. The UPL aims to unite the state through cricket, fostering talent and providing a platform for local players to shine on a bigger stage. By bringing together communities from Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar, the UPL promises to be a celebration of Uttarakhand’s rich cultural heritage and sporting potential.

In a major boost to the tournament’s appeal, the UPL has announced an attractive prize money pool of close to INR 50 lacs. The winners of the men’s competition will take home a hefty INR 25 lacs, while the champions of the women’s competition will be awarded INR 7 lacs. The runner-ups will also be generously rewarded, with the men’s and women’s teams receiving INR 12 lacs and INR 3 lacs respectively. Additionally, the league will recognize individual brilliance, offering INR 1 lac to the Men’s Player of the Series and INR 25,000 to the Women’s Player of the Series. Showcasing their commitment to supporting domestic talent, Jai Hind Auto Tech Industries have proudly come on board to reward the respective Men’s and Women’s Player of the Series with an Electric Bike and Activa. To ensure every match is fiercely contested, the UPL will see a Player of the Match award of INR 10,000 given for all 16 matches across both competitions.

This substantial investment underscores the UPL’s commitment to the development of cricket in Uttarakhand and highlights the league’s dedication to rewarding the hard work and talent of the players. By offering such lucrative incentives, the UPL is setting a new benchmark for domestic cricket tournaments and paving the way for future stars to emerge.

The teams will now take their first major step by selecting their marquee players in the UPL Player Draft, scheduled to be held in Dehradun on Sunday, 1st September 2024. This event will see respective team owners make strategic choices to secure top talents for both the men’s and women’s competitions. The teams will first start with picking one marquee player each – with the five men’s teams having the option to choose from five marquee players – Akash Madhwal, Rajan Kumar, Deepak Dhapola, Aditya Tare and Kunal Chandela. Meanwhile, Ekta Bisht, Mansi Joshi and Neelam Bisht will be the three marquee women’s players available to the Mussoorie Thunders, Nainital SG Pipers and Pithoragarh Hurricane.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahim Verma, Secretary, CAU stated, “The Uttarakhand Premier League is not just a tournament; it’s a movement that will elevate the entire state of Uttarakhand. Through UPL, we aim to showcase the best cricketing talent our state has to offer, while also contributing to the growth of sports culture in the region. We are delighted to see the response and excitement of all the individuals who have decided to support the state’s cricket ecosystem by investing in the teams. On behalf of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand, we would like to welcome them to the UPL Family and wish them the best for tomorrow’s player draft.”

“We are also very excited to present a very attractive prize money pool to the teams and the players participating in the competition, with the objective of supporting their overall development, and rewarding them so that they can keep progressing in their respective careers,” Verma added.

The UPL is set to kick off on 15th September 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, with matches continuing until 22nd September 2024. The league will feature a total of 13 matches for the men’s teams and 3 matches for the women’s teams, culminating in a grand finale where the inaugural champions will be crowned.