Post IPL snub, Latif launches city based Twenty20 league

KARACHI - Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has launched a city-based Twenty20 league worth Rs.20 million and hopes to transform it into an event that might one day rival the multi-million-dollar Indian Premier League.

Latif told Pakistan daily The News Wednesday that he had long been thinking of launching a city-based Twenty20 league but decided it was time to act when Pakistans leading cricketers were snubbed at an IPL player auction in Mumbai last month.

Latif sought a meeting with Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal, who took a keen interest in his idea of launching a Twenty20 tournament and within days the Karachi Champions League was launched offering a record prize basket of Rs.17 million for the competing clubs.

“The way our players were shabbily treated by the IPL forced me to get into action,” said Latif, who played 37 Tests and 166 One-day Internationals during an illustrious career that concluded in 2003.

“It was evident that Pakistan needed to have its own Twenty20 league. I cant do that alone but I told myself that I could play my role in initiating a local league,” he said.

Latif said he firmly believes that “actions speak louder than words”, adding that its time for all stakeholders associated with Pakistan cricket to come forward and do their bit to lift the sport out of the current crises.

“As a former Test cricketer, I regularly write and comment about the game but now Im convinced that it is time for actions. Everybody talks about how the PCB has failed but is anyone ready to come forward to do anything concrete for Pakistan cricket? I must say that if all of us decide to do our bit then our cricket can really make great progress,” he said.

The inaugural edition of the Champions League will only feature local clubs but there are plans to convert it into a Pakistan Champions League in 2011.

“We can do it,” said Latif. In fact, we are hoping that this project will attract enough support from all quarters to enable us to turn into an international league in the future.”

The inaugural event is likely to feature top Karachi-based stars like Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Fawad Alam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Khurram Manzoor and Khalid Latif.

The team winning the title after what will be a month-long tournament will walk away with Rs.10 million - easily the biggest-ever prize in the history of club cricket in Pakistan. The runners-up will get Rs.5 million, the semi-finalists Rs.500,000 each and the quarter-finalists Rs.250,000 apiece.