Controversy likely to hit Kashmir Premier League

Kotli Lions row mars KPL

KARACHI:

Kashmir Premier League (KPL) Season-II has been hit by the controversy even before it started. The participation of event's major team - Kotli Lions - is doubtful. Sindh High Court has issued notices to KPL high ups including President Muhammad Arif Malik, CEO Chaudhry Shahzad Akhtar, Vice President and well-known former cricketer Wasim Akram and two co-owners of Kotli Lions, Faisal Nadeem and Khalid Zia for August 15 on a plea filed by co-owners Nasir Yusuf of Kotli Lions.

A single bench comprising Justice Faisal Kamal Alam heard the plea.

Counsel for the petitioner, Barrister Fayyaz Somur maintained that his client Nasir Yusuf is a founder member of Kotli Lions. KPL's first season was held in August 2021 in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, and contract signing ceremony regarding the team was held at the residence of former cricketer Wasim Akram in Defence. It was formally announced at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club. All three owners of Kotli Lions, Shehryar Afridi and leading cricketers and KPL officials were present at the press conference.

He said that in the second season, both partners cheated on his client. Both partners did not contact Nasir Yousuf and overtook the team.

The petitioner's counsel said that, both the partners and KPL management completely sidelined his client in March this year.

He informed the court that several attempts were made to contact KPL management and partners, but there was no response.

The Barrister said that legal notices were issued to the parties, but no response was given by them.

He has appealed the court, seek reply from the parties and Kotli Lions should be barred from participating in KPL Season-II without his client's permission.

The court issued notices to two co-owners of Kotli Lions, President Muhammad Arif Malik, CEO Chaudhry Shahzad Akhtar and Vice President Wasim Akram for August 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2022.