Kashmir Premier League (Pakistan) 2022/23

The Kashmir Premier League (KPL) was a professional Twenty20 cricket tournament held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Launched in 2021 by the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, the competition operated for two seasons before ceasing due to financial issues. It stood apart from the official Pakistan Cricket Board domestic pyramid, with matches lacking official T20 status despite being PCB-approved events.

The tournament featured franchise teams representing specific districts alongside a diaspora squad. The sixth team in 2021 was the Bagh Stallions, while the 2022 season added the Jammu Janbaz to join the Kotli Lions, Rawalakot Hawks, Mirpur Royals, Overseas Warriors, and Muzzaffarabad Tigers. All fixtures took place at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium. The structure comprised a round-robin stage followed by a playoff series including a Qualifier 1, an Eliminator, and a Final.

The inaugural title in 2021 went to the Rawalakot Hawks, who beat the Muzzaffarabad Tigers by seven runs in the deciding match. The following year, the Mirpur Royals claimed the trophy after their final against the Bagh Stallions was abandoned due to weather. A key feature of the league was the exclusion of centrally contracted national players, focusing instead on local talent development.

Political considerations shaped the tournament significantly. The Board of Control for Cricket in India threatened to ban international players from participating, viewing the league as situated in disputed territory. This tension, combined with the exclusive venue and the inclusion of the Overseas Warriors, distinguished the KPL from commercial leagues such as the Pakistan Super League. There was no promotion or relegation system linking the competition to the national domestic structure. The league served primarily to promote cricket within the region and provide opportunities for emerging players from the local area.