MUZAFFARGARH: Kashmir Premier League (KPL) president Arif Malik and Director of Operations Rashid Latif have shown interest in inviting former Indian skipper Virat Kohli to feature in the second edition of the tournament.
The tournament is slated to start on August 1st and its final will be played on Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day (on August 14th).
In a statement, Arif Malik said that a formal invitation will be extended to Kohli to be a part of the league. However, the decision to join KPL as a player or a special guest will solely depend on the Indian cricketer.
“KPL is sending a message of peace to the world. We want Indian cricketers to be part of the league and want to reduce tensions on both sides through cricket,” the statement read.
According to Malik, the main objective of the league is to promote cricket and provide facilities to the players of this region. He said that preparations for the KPL are in full swing and as the first season, the second season will be held at Muzaffarabad Stadium.
“Along with the KPL, cricket fans will also get to see a fantasy league in which teams from Muzaffarabad and Srinagar will be seen playing virtually with each other. We want to bring people of both sides together so that we can spread the message of peace,” he added.
Aiming to improve the standards of the league, KPL recently appointed Rashid Latif as the KPL’s Director of Cricket Operations. “We should send an invitation to Virat Kohli but the decision to play lies with the player,” said Latif.
In the first campaign of the tournament, South African batter Herschelle Gibbs was the only foreign player who feature in KPL. He later pointed out BCCI for trying to prevent him along with other international players from participating in the event.
