PESHAWAR:The much-anticipated fifth edition of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s largest cricket event, the Hayatabad Super League, is set to kick off in Peshawar on February 5. This high-profile tournament will feature Test cricketers, international stars, first-class players, and talented local cricketers, offering young athletes a premier platform to showcase their skills.
The opening ceremony will be held at Hayatabad Sports Complex, with Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Fakhar Jehan and Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi officially inaugurating the event. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, will grace the closing ceremony as the chief guest.
A grand kit unveiling ceremony was held at Hayatabad Sports Complex, attended by national and international cricketers along with a large number of cricket enthusiasts. Among the prominent figures present were Test cricketer Imran Khan, international cricketer Abbas Afridi, and the league’s chief organizer, Abid Afridi. The official team jerseys were introduced during the event, receiving widespread appreciation from both players and fans.
Each team captain expressed their excitement and determination to deliver top-class performances throughout the tournament. The captains leading their respective teams are:Nazim Fighters – Abbas Afridi, Qambar Stars – Saleem Afridi, ICA Markhor – Haseeb, Khyber Green – Rehan Afridi, Shinwari Stars – Saqib Jamil, Avengers Club – Abdullah, United Tigers – Shehryar Khan, Hayatabad Champions – Naveed Afridi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Test cricketer Imran Khan hailed the Hayatabad Super League as the biggest and most significant cricket event in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He emphasized that the tournament would play a key role in promoting cricket across the province, providing young cricketers with an excellent opportunity to display their skills and progress to national and international levels.
Imran Khan encouraged all Test and international cricketers from the province to attend the league matches and support the young talent, as their presence would be a huge morale booster for the emerging players. He also commended Abid Afridi and his team for successfully organizing such a high-caliber event.
The chief organizer of the Hayatabad Super League, Abid Afridi, highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a rich history of producing legendary athletes in cricket, volleyball, football, squash, basketball, hockey, and other sports. He stated that the primary goal of this league is to unearth and nurture more talented players, enabling them to represent Pakistan at the national and international levels.
Afridi further emphasized that the league’s inception was driven by the vision of showcasing the immense cricketing talent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he expressed confidence that the event would yield long-term benefits for cricket in the region.
Excitement among cricket fans in Peshawar is already at its peak, as the city gears up for an action-packed tournament. All matches of the Hayatabad Super League will be played in Peshawar, with the event being hailed as a major step forward in cricket development within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Participating players are equally enthusiastic, expressing their commitment to delivering top-notch performances. Many young cricketers see this league as a stepping stone to professional success, aiming to make a name for themselves at higher levels of the sport.
The league will culminate in a thrilling final match, followed by a grand closing ceremony, where Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur will be the guest of honor. The winning team will receive the championship trophy and cash prizes, while outstanding individual performances will be recognized with special awards.
Cricket analysts and fans believe that the Hayatabad Super League will not only contribute significantly to the growth of cricket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but will also serve as a launchpad for young players to establish themselves at the national and international levels. With high-intensity matches and electrifying action on the cards, this tournament is set to raise the bar for cricket in the region and open new avenues for future stars.