Inaugural edition of VPTL won’t start by May end

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE inaugural edition of Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Vidarbha Pro T20 league (VPTL) won’t kick off by the end of the month, as it was scheduled.

VCA had decided to start the maiden edition of the franchise-based T20 League immediately after the Indian Premier League, the final of which was supposed to be played on May 25.

But with IPL suspended indefinitely due to the escalating military confrontation between India and Pakistan,  a cloud of uncertainty has loomed over the start of VPTL. There was a very small window of not more than 15 days for VPTL with monsoon arriving by the first week of June in Nagpur. 

VCA was planning to start the league somewhere around the last week of May. But 

their plans have gone haywire with the postponement of

the IPL.

Several Vidarbha cricketers are part of the IPL. They will also be the ‘icon’ players of VPTL and the association would love to see all of them play the inaugural edition of T20 league, which will be played at VCA Jamtha Stadium.

The association was planning to announce the names of the six franchises for the men’s league in a couple of days but had no other option but to hold it back.

“We are monitoring the situation. We did not announce the dates but yes it won’t start in the last week of May, that’s for sure,” VPTL Chairman Prashant Vaidya told ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday.

“We will have to look at the options IPL has in finishing the remaining matches in the coming days. But at the moment we can’t announce anything looking at the gravity of the situation the country is dealing with,” Vaidya reasoned when asked about the names of six franchises and other preparations.

“We were planning to announce the names of six franchises in the coming days but have to hold everything back. Once IPL finishes or any directives regarding the league are issued, only then we will take any further decisions,” stated former India pacer Vaidya.

Teams for the inaugural edition of VPTL were selected by the organising committee. 

The winner of the maiden edition will be richer by Rs 35 lakh while the runners-up will get Rs 25 lakh, it was announced last month.

Arivaa Sports Private Limited will be managing the event.