In a first, Bengal Pro T20 League brings hope and opportunity and puts an end to the question, "when?"

The Cricket Association of Bengal unveiled the trophy for the first season of the Bengal Pro T20 League in Kolkata on Friday. In the presence of former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami, the names of the eight franchises and their marquee players were announced in front of the media. The tournament will start on June 11.

This will be the first time that Bengal will organise their own T20 cricket league after failing to make it happen in previous years. After the successful first-ever pink ball match in India in 2016, CAB were eyeing to become to first state association to organise a T20 league. Since then, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and many other state associations have successfully organised their T20 leagues and their players have benefited from that well.

Know more about the tournament structure of the Bengal Pro T20 League 2024.

However, the fans and players of Bengal had to wait till 2024 to put an end to the question of when Bengal will have its own T20 league. Though, there are a few players from Bengal who are featuring in the Indian Premier League, Bengal as a white-ball team have not been consistent enough in the domestic circuit in the recent past. 

Bengal fans feel this league, if done successfully can bring some good homegrown talent in white-ball format, not only in men's cricket, but in women's too.

Though CAB could not be the first to organise their T20 league, they now have become the first association to have both men's and women's leagues. The Bengal Pro T20 League will have eight franchises with 8 men's and women's teams which will broaden Bengal's strength in Women's Cricket too.

Citing the success of Abishek Porel and Richa Ghosh in both IPL and WPL respectively, Sourav Ganguly said, This is a new era. We are getting to witness something special. T20 cricket is evolving with each passing day and the launch of Bengal Pro T20 League will surely help Bengal cricket in days to come. I hope the men's and women's cricketers will be benefitted immensely." 

"With IPL growing hugely, I hope players from Bengal will represent IPL surely in the coming years. I wish all the players the best for the forthcoming league," he added.

Women's cricket legend Jhulan Goswami feels this league will bring more players from Bengal who will represent many teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL). 

"To be able to witness the Bengal Pro T20 League launch is truly amazing. I would like to thank the CAB for making this possible. I wish all the players who will be participating to give their best and win it for their team.," Jhulan Goswami said. 

"This league will surely help bring forward more talent from Bengal who will represent IPL and Women's Premier League in the coming years," she added.

CAB President Snehasish Ganguly is also hopeful that the Bengal Pro T20 League will become one of the best leagues in India and will help to create a pool of talent from Bengal in the future days. 

"I would like to thank all the CAB office bearers, franchises and everyone involved in helping this league come together. Bengal Pro T20 League is shaping up to become one of the marquee leagues. The league will help bring forward a pool of talent from Bengal in days to come. I wish all the players the very best who will represent the eight teams," Snehasish Ganguly expressed.

8 teams along with the men and women marquee players for the inaugural season

Lux Industries & Shyam Steel Consortium: Kolkata Royal Tigers - Abishek Porel & Mita Paul

GD Mining: Harbour Diamonds- Manoj Tiwary & Sukanya Parida 

Rashmi Group: Rashmi Medinipur Wizards - Abhimanyu Easwaran & Richa Ghosh 

ServoTec Power Systems: Servotec Siliguri Strikers - Akash Deep & Priyanka Bala 

Shrachi Group: Rarh Tigers - Shahbaz Ahmed & Titas Sadhu 

Adamas University: Adamas Howrah Warriors - Anustup Majumdar & Dhara Gujjar 

Sobisco Ltd: Malda Sobisco Smashers, Mukesh Kumar & Hrishita Basu 

Pritam Electricals & Jalan Builders Consortium: Murshidabad Kings - Sudip Gharami & Deepti Sharma