Ananta Premier League’s fifth season promises to be bigger and better

Team Anantapur were the runners-up in APL season 1

A new season of the Anantapur Football League is already underway and now it’s time for a brand new cricket season to unfold within the Anantapur district. The fifth season of the Ananta Premier League is scheduled to start from the 22nd November 2015 and run up until 14th February 2016.

It has shown signs of development every passing year since its inception in 2011, and this year promises to be bigger and better. The league that started with 10 teams in 2011 has gained enormous popularity down the years, and will feature 22 teams this season with four new teams, namely, Settur, Kanaikal, Ellanur and Putlur making their debut.

The teams participating this year are from different sub-centres of Anantapur District Cricket Association (ADCA) and Rural Development Trust (RDT). Initially, the tournament was for the U19 age group, but from the second season onwards the age group has been revised to U16 as per the decision of ADCA.

The 22 teams have been chosen from four zones of Anantapur district namely, Central, North-South and West. The league stage will be played from 22nd November 2015 to 24th January 2016.

Thereafter, it will be the quarter finals from 31st January 2016 followed by the semi-finals on 7th February 2016. The finals will be played a week later on 14th February 2016.

The first season was won by the ASV Academy team. Since then, the next three seasons have seen joint winners and the winning teams shared the trophy between them. Gooty and ASV Academy team shared the honors in the second season (2012-13), whereas Kadiri, Bukkarayasamudram and Narpala did the same in the third (2013-14). The fourth season (2014-15) saw ASV Academy team and Gooty share top honours.

ADCA and RDT have been proud organizers of this prestigious tournament over the year, which has taken out the best rural talent in terms of cricket. ADCA President Mr. Moncho Ferrer says, “Our aim is to promote this league in all 63 Mandals within Anantapur district and encourage the participation of girls in the tournament as well in the near future”.

This season promises to take the level of cricket one notch up and also assures guaranteed entertainment and some good competitive matches once the season gets underway.