Barak Legends Call for Valley’s Support Ahead of Assam Premier League Debut

Barak Legends have urged cricket fans across Barak Valley to rally behind the region’s first-ever franchise in the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL), which begins on August 1.

Addressing the media, Barak Legends representative Vivek Podder said the team’s first match will be played on August 2. He said the squad has been built with a balance of quality and depth, comprising 18 players across marquee, A, B and C categories. The team’s coach is R.K. Yadav, while Dipankar Aditya is the team manager. Amit Singh, who previously worked as a video analyst for Meghalaya’s senior cricket team, has joined as the team’s video analyst.

Podder appealed to cricket lovers to support the team by watching the matches on JioHotstar and Star Sports or by attending the games at the stadium. Referring to the team’s slogan, “Khelbe Barak, Jitbe Barak” (Barak Will Play, Barak Will Win), he expressed hope that the team would live up to the expectations of the people of Barak Valley.

Speaking about the player auction, Podder said Barak Legends invested Rs 12 lakh to sign marquee all-rounder Sibsankar Roy. He said professional leagues such as the Assam Premier League provide financial opportunities for cricketers and motivate young players from the districts to pursue a career in the sport.

According to the franchise, Barak Legends are intended to represent the identity of Barak Valley rather than simply being another cricket team. The franchise has encouraged supporters to see it as “Barak’s team” and has adopted the slogan “Khelbe Barak, Jitbe Barak” as its message throughout the tournament. Fans have also been invited to join the “Barak Army” and follow the team’s official social media platforms.

Barak Legends signed Sibsankar Roy for Rs 12 lakh, making him the third most expensive player in the inaugural APL auction. Other notable signings include Abdul Ajij Kuraishi, Bhargab Pratim Lakhar, Barunjyoti Malakar, Aman Singh, Saurav Dey, Mohit Thakur, Harsh Kumar, Shraban Khound, Dipankar Paul, Bishal Saha, Subham Mandal, Jacky Ali, Rabi Chetry, Imran Ahmed, Yasir Ali, Abhishek Deb and Samik Das.

The inaugural Assam Premier League, organised by the Assam Cricket Association, will feature eight franchises from across the state and aims to strengthen Assam’s domestic cricket structure while providing greater exposure to local talent. Alongside Barak Legends, the other participating teams are Barpeta Braves, Charaideo Sunrisers, Jorhat Stallions, Tezpur Titans, Dibrugarh Warriors, Nagaon Rangers and Guwahati Royals.