second edition of league of legends Cricket (LLC) will be played in six Indian cities, with players from multiple countries participating.
The first season of the league was played in January this year in Muscat, Oman between three teams – India Maharajas, World Giants and Asia Lions – and that involved seven games. However, Season 2 will feature four franchise-owned teams. There will be 15 matches, which will be played from September 17 to October 8 in six cities- Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Jodhpur, Cuttack and Rajkot.
Read also | Australia men’s team donates prize money from tour of Sri Lanka to support island nation in economic crisis
Former India captain and current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has also confirmed that he will be attending a very special LLC match.
“Enjoying training to get ready to play a one time charity funding game for the festival of freedom..75 years of Indian independence and some cricket balls soon for women empowerment with top stalwarts of legend league cricket @ llct20 Need to hit up,” Ganguly wrote on Instagram.
However, the biggest concern before the organizers is the availability of visas for former Pakistan cricketers, who are set to take part in the tournament. Questions are being raised whether the BCCI or the Indian government has changed its stand on its cricketing relationship with Pakistan.
Notably, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for almost a decade and they only face each other in Asia Cup and ICC events due to political tensions between the two countries. The Indian Premier League (IPL) also does not allow players from Pakistan to participate except in the first season of the league in 2008.
When asked about the situation, some BCCI officials are not much aware of the visa issue.
“I can’t say much. If Pakistani cricketers get visa from our government then they will play or not. We (BCCI) have no role in tournament or visa matters.
Another official questioned, “How can Pakistani players be allowed to play on Indian soil when we have no cricketing ties with Pakistan.” I am sure they will not get visa.
LLC Season 2 features a long list of former Pakistan cricketers including Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi and many more including Asia and World XI teams. Therefore, it will be interesting to see the Indian government’s stand on granting visas to Pakistani players, especially when the country does not have bilateral cricket ties with the neighboring country.
It is also worth noting that all Pakistan cricketers, both former and present, with many playing in the league, are strong supporters and promoters of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL).
The Government of India and the BCCI have strongly objected and condemned the organization of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) and banned all the cricketers playing in the KPL from playing any form of cricket in India.
get the latest cricket news, Schedule And cricket live score Here