Chandigarh : In a major move to strengthen youth engagement and tackle Punjab’s drug crisis, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government on Monday approved the launch of the Punjab Cricket League (PCL). The initiative aims to position sports as a strategic tool for youth empowerment rather than a token outreach program.
Modeled on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the PCL will feature district and regional teams, supported by institutional partnerships with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). The league is designed to systematically identify, nurture, and channel young talent into professional cricket pathways while building a broader ecosystem of district- and state-level leagues in multiple sports, encouraging youth to move away from drugs and towards discipline, opportunity, and national representation.
CM @BhagwantMann ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿਖੇ ਖੇਡ ਅਤੇ ਯੁਵਕ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ਼ ਬੈਠਕ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ‘ਚ ਖੇਡ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਦੇ ਪਸਾਰੇ ਲਈ ਗੰਭੀਰਤਾ ਨਾਲ਼ ਵਿਚਾਰ-ਵਟਾਂਦਰੇ ਹੋਏ। ਵਿਭਾਗੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ CM ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਨਵੀਂ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀ ਨੂੰ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਨਾਲ਼ ਜੋੜ… pic.twitter.com/814fWwLnxy
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) February 9, 2026
CM Bhagwant Mann shared insights from a recent meeting with senior officials of the Department of Sports and Youth Services. “All officials were instructed to encourage youth participation in sports, with the objective of building a healthy and fit society,” he said. “The government is committed to reviving the sports culture in Punjab and reconnecting the youth with playgrounds across the state.”
CM Bhagwant Mann Launches Punjab Cricket League for National and International Cricket Aspirants
Chairing a review meeting of the Sports Department, the CM Bhagwant Mann confirmed that the Punjab Cricket League would be organised in collaboration with the PCA and BCCI, grooming young talent from across Punjab. “This league will help create a strong talent pool for both national and international competitions,” he added.
Drawing inspiration from global examples, Bhagwant Mann highlighted that initiatives like these have historically produced world-class players. “Legends like Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga emerged through similar leagues. The PCL will help Punjab become a nurturing ground for cricketing talent,” he said.
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The league will be structured along IPL lines, with teams representing districts and regions such as Majha, Doaba, and Malwa. CM Mann further stressed that the initiative will not be limited to cricket; the state government plans to organise district- and state-level leagues in volleyball, football, hockey, basketball, kho-kho, and kabaddi.
“Our goal is to produce maximum trained sportspersons and ensure that more Punjabi athletes represent India on the international stage,” Mann said. Highlighting Punjab’s rich sporting heritage, he added, “The state has immense sports talent, and the government is fully committed to nurturing it, enabling players to compete and win medals for India.”
Concluding, the Chief Minister emphasised the role of sports in youth development. “Games provide the youth with an opportunity to excel and bring pride to Punjab. The government is determined to restore Punjab’s sporting glory and will leave no stone unturned to achieve this vision,” he asserted.