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The Kashmir Premier League (Kashmir Premier League) is a professional Twenty20 league founded in 2021. The league consists of six franchises; five teams representing the five major cities in Azad Kashmir, while one team is representing the overseas Kashmiris. The teams play in a double round-robin format with the top four teams qualify for the playoffs and ultimately for the final.
In December 2020, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar Khan Afridi launched the Kashmir Premier League in Azad Kashmir. The President of Azad Kashmir, Masood Khan, was appointed as the Chief Patron of the Kashmir Premier League. Ch. Shahzad Akhtar is the CEO and Arif Malik is the founding President of the Kashmir Premier League, and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is the founding Vice President. Shahid Afridi is the Brand Ambassador of the KPL. While, Shoaib Akhtar is the peace ambassador of the league.
Many Pakistani film celebrities, such as Juggun Kazim, Mehwish Hayat, Iman Ali, Ali Gul Pir, Neelam Muneer, and Ayesha Omar, are brand ambassadors of the Kashmir Premier League. KPL has partnered with Shahid Afridi Foundation as a charity organization.
Kashmir Premier League is accredited by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the Government of Punjab, Pakistan. The league was initially scheduled to start in May 2021. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board moved the time window for its start to August 2021.
There are six teams. Each team will have five local Kashmiri players. They will play with Pakistan cricket stars in the first edition. It is announced that matches in the Kashmir Premier League do not have official T20 status. According to the league’s official website, following are the current teams of the KPL:
| Team | Owner | Place | Founded | Captain | Coach |
| Overseas Warriors | Muhammad Zakir Ali | Kashmiri diaspora | 2020 | Imad Wasim | Mushtaq Ahmed |
| Muzaffarabad Tigers | Arshad Khan Tanoli | Muzaffarabad | 2020 | Mohammad Hafeez | Mohtashim Rasheed |
| Rawalakot Hawks | Jan Wali Shaheen | Rawalakot | 2020 | Shahid Afridi | Arshad Khan |
| Bagh Stallions | Hameed Khan | Bagh, Azad Kashmir | 2020 | Shan Masood | Abdul Rehman |
| Mirpur Royals | Suleman Raza | Mirpur, Pakistan | 2020 | Shoaib Malik | Inzamam-ul-haq |
| Kotli Lions | Khalid Zia and Nasir Yousuf | Kotli | 2020 | Kamran Akmal | Abdul Razzaq |
The first edition of the league is being held from 6th to 17th of August 2021 at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium. Herschelle Gibbs is the only foreign player playing in the first season. Daryll Cullinan and Morné van Wyk are two foreign commentators in the first edition of the league. “More global cricket stars are expected to perform in the second edition of the Kashmir Premier League.” SR Group is the official title sponsor of the KPL 2021.
Around 2,500 spectators are allowed to watch the match in stadium in the first edition of the Kashmir Premier League due to COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.
The following channels are broadcasting the KPL in Pakistan
- Geo Super
- PTV Sports
