The Saurashtra Cricket Association has postponed the third edition of the Saurashtra Premier League (SPL T20 2023) citing cyclone Biparjoy which is expected to hit the coast of Gujarat.
SPL 2023 was scheduled to be played from June 15, 2023, to June 24, 2023 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
There are five teams involved in the tournament – Sorath Lions, Gohilwad Gladiators, Halar Heroes, Kutch Warriors, and Zalawad Royals. The tournament is played in a round-robin format. All the teams play each other once. The top two teams at the end of 10 matches play the final.
Why is Saurashtra Premier League 2023 postponed?
Cyclone Biparjoy is currently raising havoc in the region of Western India, including Rajkot, Gujarat, where the tournament is going to be held. As a result, the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) have decided against holding the tournament on the original date of June 15 due to the cyclone warning and preventive measures advised by the local authorities.
“We were all set and geared up for Saurashtra Premier League (SPL) 2023 that was scheduled to be played from 15th June to 24th June 2023. Regrettably, due to cyclonic effects in the region, office bearers of Saurashtra Cricket Association have taken decision to postpone it,” read a statement from the SCA.
Due to severity of cyclonic effects in the Region, SPL 2023 is postponed which was scheduled to start from 15th June 2023. Saurashtra Cricket Association appeals to everyone in the affected areas to stay safe 🙏🏻 #Cricket #Cyclone #Biparjoy
— Saurashtra Cricket (@saucricket) June 12, 2023
This is not the first time that Saurashtra Premier League has been postponed or cancelled. After the first season of SPL that was played in 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic forced to cancel the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the league.