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Cricket Kenya Launches Its First T20 League Backed By $2 Million Deal

Jatin

Kenya to kick off franchise T20 league in September [Source: @CricketKenya/x.com]Kenya to kick off franchise T20 league in September [Source: @CricketKenya/x.com]

Cricket in Kenya is gearing up for a massive comeback. Come September, the country will roll out its very own franchise-based T20 league, CKT20, in a bold move to bring back the buzz that once saw Kenya reach the semis of the 2003 ODI World Cup.

New Dawn For Kenyan Cricket As CKT20 Set To Kick Off In September

In a cricketing landscape dominated by leagues across India, Australia and the Gulf, Kenya’s entry is both timely and much-needed. And if the noise around it is anything to go by, CKT20 could breathe new life into East African cricket.

The inaugural season of Kenya Cricket League (CKT20) will be a 25-day showdown featuring six city-based franchises. Each team can recruit up to five overseas players but only four can feature in a match to make sure local talent isn’t benched while foreign names grab the limelight.

Former international and CK Board Member Kennedy Obuya, who’s seen the highs and lows of Kenyan cricket, couldn’t hide his excitement.

"This is huge. It will be exciting. It will be thrilling. It will turn around Kenya’s game for the better."


Big Money Backing From Dubai And India

CK has teamed up with AOS Sport Tournament, a Dubai and India-based sports firm, for a $2 million investment spread over five years. The first season will see $300,000 pumped in and that figure will go up by $50,000 each year, eventually touching half a million dollars by 2029.

In Kenyan terms, we’re talking about over 255 million shillings in total, enough to build not just teams but full-blown careers for young cricketers.

Chandra Prakash Panwar, Chairman of AOS Sport Tournament, called it a game-changer:

"This strategic collaboration is poised to catapult Kenyan cricket to unprecedented heights. The CKT20 League promises to unlock vast potential for Kenyan cricketers, as well as talented players from the African associate member nations."

Notably, this initiative reportedly aligns with Indian PM Narendra Modi’s broader vision to support Kenya’s tourism and sports infrastructure.

Eyes On Africa’s Next Cricketing Hotspot

While the global cricket spotlight usually shines on the big boys, Kenya’s CKT20 is looking to light up the map from the bottom up. By allowing associate nation players from across Africa to join in, the league could become a true melting pot of emerging talent.

And by keeping a cap on foreign players per match, it is clear the league’s heart lies in building local depth, not just making noise with big names.