APL to begin as scheduled, BCCI joint secretary urges ACA to keep event low-key amid Assam flood crisis

The Assam Premier League (APL) will begin as scheduled on August 1, with the tournament set to continue until August 23, even as the state continues to recover from the recent flood crisis.

BCCI Joint Secretary Devajit Lon Saikia congratulated the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) for completing the arrangements for the tournament but urged the organisers to avoid holding a grand opening or entertainment programme in view of the prevailing situation in Assam.

“I congratulate the Assam Cricket Association for making wonderful arrangements to start the APL tomorrow. My only request is that the ACA should not do it in a very grand way because the present situation in Assam is not conducive to holding entertainment programmes,” Saikia said.

He said postponing the tournament would be difficult as all preparations had already been completed and the ACA had no suitable window to reschedule the competition after August 23.

“If we do not hold this tournament from tomorrow until August 23, there will be no window available for the next eight months,” Saikia said, adding that the domestic cricket calendar would begin immediately after the tournament and continue through May 2027, alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Saikia also praised the ACA for extending support to flood-affected people in Assam, noting that the association had donated Rs 50 lakh towards relief efforts on July 24.

He said the ACA had consistently stood with the people of Assam during times of crisis and expressed confidence that the association would continue supporting flood-hit communities while conducting the tournament in a restrained manner.