The inaugural edition of GPCL is due to be held in Delhi from October 2 to October 9.
The inaugural edition of the T20 tournament will feature eight teams, each from different nationalities. The participating teams are from India, Australia, England, USA, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
The marquee international cricketers participating in the competition include Munaf Patel, Yusuf Pathan, Ian Bell, Gulbadin Naib, Callum Ferguson, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chadd Sayers, Shaminda Eranga, Narsingh Deonarine, Dilshan Munaweera, Kirk Edwards among others.
In a first of its kind, the GPCL organisers have made it mandatory for each team to include players of Indian origin in their squad while the average age of the side shouldn’t cross 25 years, thereby, providing a perfect platform to the Indian diaspora global youth cricketers to showcase their T20 prowess.
Power Sportz is the official broadcaster of GPCL T20. The tournament will be telecasted in 95 territories worldwide with 21 HD cameras capturing the action, showing skills, emotions, celebrations, and aesthetic graphics to the fans with utmost perfection.
While the audience of the Indian territory will be able to watch the action on Power Sportz, ATN and Willow TV will telecast the event in Canada and the United States of America respectively.
Cineblitz holds the broadcasting rights in territories such as Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
ReCast also has the license to broadcast the GPCL in territories like Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Barmuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan among others.
Renowned sports presenter Chloe Amanda Bailey is associated with the GPCL as well. The organisers have also invited legendary stars like Usain Bolt, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira and Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior to grace the opening ceremony, scheduled for October 1 at Yamuna Sports Complex in Delhi.
Talking about the GPCL T20, the eight participating teams have been divided into two groups. Indian Sapphires, English Reds, Scottish Mulberries, and American Indigos feature in Pool A whereas Australian Golds, South African Emeralds, Sri Lankan Violets, and Irish Olives are part of Pool B.
Every team will play one match against the other three sides before the top two teams from each group will move to the semi-final, where the toppers of each pool will take on the second-placed side of the other pool.
Ultimately, the winners of the semi-final will face each other in the final. All the games will be played at Yamuna Sports Complex Cricket Ground in New Delhi.