Army invites Indian skipper MS Dhoni to promote Kashmir Premier League

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who holds an honorary post in the Indian Army as of now, has been invited by the Army to promote the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) at the Shaukat Memorial College in Baramulla. This is an attempt by the Army to promote sports in the state, says a report in The DNA.

Army sources told DNA that Dhoni would visit the state between June 2 and 7 and play an exhibition match in Leh on June 6. Dhoni is also slated to visit the Siachen base camp the next day.

“We have been told that MS Dhoni will be coming here for an exhibition match and arrangements are being made,” an army source said on Thursday.

The KPL was launched last year by the army in collaboration with the state government in order to promote cricket.

Meanwhile Pakistan’s Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul Haq called for a quick revival of matches against India, saying that fans were keen to see the teams play. “It is important that we have a quick revival of Indo-Pak cricket, because fans want to see both play,” Misbah said, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile Gautam Gambhir on Thursday suggested heavy fines for IPL franchisees in case they are unable to control the conduct of their players. “Somewhere down the line franchises need to control these things. A certain player from a certain team does these things, the franchise needs to be fined and it has to be fined heavily.”

According to reports Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene says the two-match T20 series against Pakistan starting on Friday will be ideal to identify suitable players for the World T20 in September and October.