T20 League in Barcelona; former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna guiding force

New Delhi: Football is the most popular sport in Spain and in Europe. Spain has produced some of the most influential teams on the continent. Real Madrid and Barcelona, just to name a few. But the popularity of Cricket, especially T20, is now all set to enter Barcelona in Spain.

The Catalan Cricket Federation has unveiled the BARCELONAT20 League, a ground breaking initiative poised to catapult Barcelona into the forefront of global cricket.

Spearheaded by Ghulam Saber Butt Begum, President of the Catalan Cricket Federation, this historic league promises to redefine cricket's landscape in Catalonia and Europe.

Marked as the most ambitious cricket competition in Europe, BARCELONAT20 is set to kick off in August, boasting the participation of world-renowned players.

With the support of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia and the Catalan Sports Council, the inaugural league will feature six teams engaging in 34 exhilarating matches, culminating in playoffs and finals by the first week of September 24, Catalan Cricket Federation said in a release.

Guiding BARCELONAT20's inception is Surinder Khanna, a seasoned cricket authority and former member of the IPL Governing Council on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This will be a momentous moment watching T20 league being played in Barcelona, a football loving nation, he said.

“It is indeed a very proud moment for me to collaborate with Indian experts in sports and particularly cricket field to develop Barcelona Cricket League T20, here in Barcelona,” Robert Masih Nahar, Director General, Catalan Cricket Federation, said.

At the official launch held at the UFEC headquarters, esteemed guests including Gerard Esteva, President of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia, and Aleix Villatoro i Oliver, Director of the Catalan Sports Council, echoed their enthusiasm for this milestone event.

Also in attendance were cricket aficionados from Sport Network UK, the driving force behind the tournament's promotion.

President Ghulam Saber Butt Begum expressed his excitement, stating, "From the Catalan Cricket Federation, we've diligently worked to nurture cricket from its grassroots and foster its popularity in Catalonia. The arrival of BARCELONAT20 is a momentous occasion, uniting top international cricket talent, coaches, and experts to propel the sport's growth in Catalonia."