The Inter Diaspora Premier League (IDPL) is slated for its inaugural run in Ireland on July 27th at the North Kildare Cricket Club. The Indian expat community, with backing from the Bank of Ireland and Zuci Activate Future, have organised this event. The target of this unique T10 cricket tournament is to establish a connecting point for India’s passionate cricket followers living abroad.
In a T10 cricket match, every game is composed of 10 overs on each side. This shortened version only lasts about 90 minutes and opens the possibility for multiple matches throughout the day. The IDPL title will be contested between representatives from different Indian expat communities including those from Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala, Assam, and Odisha.
The team names used in this league mirror those of the well-known Indian Premier League (IPL), a popular competition which acted as the inspiration behind creating cricket matches in Co Kildare for the dispersed Indian community across Ireland.
With more than 600 million viewers in India and countless millions in other cricket-enthusiast countries like England and Australia, the IPL has become a phenomenal success story in global sports. The T20 games put the most prominent Indian and international cricketers in competition with each other, all representing some of the largest cities in India.
Maruthi Nambi, the founder of the diaspora tournament, expressed, “Our aspiration is to enhance the IDPL to mirror the success of IPL in India and the other top-notch cricket leagues around the world.”
The event will be family-friendly, featuring Indian food stalls, a bouncy castle for the little ones, and showcasing traditional dance and music.
Mr Nambi further explained, “Through cricket, our intention is to pull together the major cricketing diaspora in Ireland, promoting the sharing of cultures and a sense of community spirit. We hope to create a lasting impression, nurturing community bonds and facilitating an opportunity for social interaction.”
He went on to add that the IDPL has expanded from a humble concept to an iconic event in a relatively small timeframe. “Initially, it was a theoretical idea but it has evolved into a powerful magnet drawing in communities, players, spectators, and sponsors from all over who share a love for cricket.”
The cricket teams stand for various Indian localities, diverse in languages and customs. Ireland’s cricket-playing constituencies are also included with an aim to intensify the country’s cricket affection.
“In addition to indigenous Irish, our player community encompasses different diaspora groups, like South African, Indian, Pakistani and others residing in Ireland,” mentioned Santosh Pallae, the head of the Indo-Irish Telugu Welfare Association.
Pallae incessantly advocates to engage the Irish locals and other communities in the cricket game. He persists in promoting cricket as a commendable sport and extends an open invitation to them to participate.
The North Kildare Cricket Club in Kilcock, Co Kildare will be the chosen venue to host the event on July 27th, Saturday. The matches are set to begin at 9am, and the award presentation is planned at 7pm.