CHANDIGARH; 13th September 2026:
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday attended the closing ceremony of the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, describing the tournament as a powerful platform to identify, nurture and propel Punjab’s emerging cricketing talent towards the national stage. With 119 players showcasing their skills and Naman Dhir and Prabhsimran Singh earning selection to India A, the Chief Minister said the Punjab Government is committed to making the state the sports hub of the country and will continue its efforts to revive the sporting culture and connect the youth with sports grounds.
Sharing a few snippets from the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Attended the final match and closing ceremony of the ‘Sher-e-Punjab T20 League’ at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali today. Starting on August 30, the tournament has provided an excellent platform for young cricketers from Punjab to showcase their talent. Heartiest congratulations to all participating teams, including finalists Ludhiana Lions and Amritsar Surmaaz, for their outstanding performances and fighting spirit. Our efforts to revive the sporting culture in Punjab and connect our youth with the sports grounds will continue unabated. Inquilab Zindabad.”
Interacting with players at the conclusion of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cricket League, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League has been organised for the first time by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). This prestigious tournament has provided a platform to emerging cricketers of Punjab, and this sporting extravaganza has concluded today.”
Congratulating the organisers of the Punjab Cricket Association for successfully conducting the league, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “I congratulate the Punjab Cricket Association for the successful conduct of this league and extend my best wishes to all the participating teams and all the other teams for the upcoming season.”
The Chief Minister stated, “During this two-week-long league, several promising young cricketers from the villages and towns of Punjab came into the limelight. Many of these talented players are likely to go on to represent Punjab and India in the years to come.”
Congratulating all the players for participating in their own state league with great enthusiasm, commitment and determination, the Chief Minister said, “As many as 119 players from Punjab showcased their talent and skills during this league.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “At present, the captains of both the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams, Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively, hail from Punjab.”
The Chief Minister said, “As many as 21 players from Punjab are currently playing in the IPL. During the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, talent scouts and selectors from various IPL teams also attended the matches. Following this league, we are hopeful that several more talented cricketers from Punjab will earn opportunities to play for different IPL teams.”
Highlighting the early results emerging from the league, he said, “The performances showcased during this league have already begun yielding results. Naman Dhir and Prabhsimran Singh from Punjab have been selected for the India A team. This demonstrates how such platforms can provide a pathway for emerging players to progress to the national level.”
The Chief Minister said, “I am particularly delighted to share that the Player of the Tournament will be honoured with the Yuvraj Singh Award.”
Describing the significance of the league, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is not merely a cricket tournament. It is an important initiative to identify, nurture and promote the immense cricketing talent present across the villages, towns and cities of Punjab.”
He expressed hope that “the young cricketers who have showcased their talent here will go on to bring greater glory to Punjab and the country in the future.”
^Amritsar Surmaaz, Ludhiana Lions Clash In Sher-e-Punjab T20 League Final*
The final match is being played today between Amritsar Surmaaz and Ludhiana Lions. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also met the players competing in the final.
Six teams participated in the league, with Fazilka Falcons led by Shubman Gill, Ludhiana Lions led by Arshdeep Singh, Amritsar Surmaaz led by Abhishek Sharma, Jalandhar Warriors led by Prabhsimran Singh, Mohali Kings led by Ramandeep Singh and Bathinda Royals led by Gurnoor Brar.
These six teams participated in the league, featuring some of Punjab’s leading cricketing stars. Besides them, cricketers including Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Vihaan Malhotra, Imanjot Singh Chahal, Ashwani Kumar, Krish Bhagat, Sahil Bhaskar and Rahul Kumar also participated in the league.
Lok Sabha MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and others were also present on the occasion.
