By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: Shamezai Baryali and Elum Batoran went into the final of the first Swat Cricket Super League here on Thursday at the historical Grassy ground in Mingora. In the first semi final Shamezai Baryali beat Elum Batoran by 4 wickets after crossing the 170 target with 3 balls remaining and went through in the final. Amir Sohail of the Shamezai Baryali was declared man of the match for his all round performance by scoring 55 runs and taking 1 wicket.
In the eliminator match Elum Batoran defeated Ningolai Nangiyali by 9 wickets after chasing the 146 target in the 17th over.
Ibrar Ahmad who scored 73 runs not out and Rahmat Ali scored 33 and also got 3 wickets were collectively declared men of the match.
Cricket lovers highly appreciated the first edition of the Swat Super League and expected it would continue in future in the same spirit.
“I am excited to have chance in the Swat Super League as the PSL, BPL and IPL attracted me very much and I never missed watching a single match of any of the league on TV. Now I am part of the same style league in which I learnt a lot,” said Amir Sohail an emerging cricket player.
Organizer of the Swat Super League, Kishwar Ali said that owing to the very rich cricket talent in Swat the tournament is organized by Suzuki motors and is being played on the T20 format. “Presently, the tournament entered into play-offs as the top four of the eight teams will play two matches each to reach final which will be played on Friday,” he said.
He said the tournament was officially kicked off on August 14 which followed the Pakistan Super League style.
He said teams were named after different beautiful valleys and villages in the valley included Ningolai Nangyali, Miyandam Shazalmi, Margazar Gulona, Elum Batoran, Shamezai Baryali, Sangar Zwanan, Daral Stori and Malam Azmari.
He said the Swat Super League will be held every year for the betterment of professional cricket.
Sports Pavilion Cricket Academy (SPCA) Swat, Managing Director Gouhar Shah said that the administration and players of the academy supported the Swat Super League for promotion of the cricket and would continue its support in the future.
“Apart from assisting the management of Swat Super League, forty players belonging to the SPCA Swat academy, are engaged in the event with different teams playing very good cricket,” he said.
He said that the academy had the privilege to have produced national and international caliber players including Imran Khan Junior who played in the T20 squad of Pakistan Cricket Team, Hamza Khan who played in the U-19 world cup from Pakistan and Mukhtyar Ahmad represented Pakistan in U-16 and U-19 teams.
He said that the SPCA players like Ilyas Khan, Shafiur Rehman, Inamullah and Niaz were selected for Peshawar Zalmi U-19 camp held at NCA recently.
“The academy is hunting cricket talent in the region and working hard to polish it for the national team,” he added.
