Kashmir hosts historic player auction for first-ever franchise-based football league

Srinagar, Jun 27: In a landmark development for football in Jammu and Kashmir, the valley today witnessed the inaugural players’ auction of the Khyber Cement Kashmir Super League (KSL) 2025—the first-ever franchise-based football league in the region.

The bidding ceremony, as per the organisers, was officially inaugurated by Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council, marking a significant leap forward for professional football in J&K, modelled on the lines of India’s IPL and ISL auction format.

Sharing details about the mega sporting event with Greater Kashmir, Majid Yousuf, Chairman of the Technical Committee for KSL and Executive Officer at J&K Sports Council, said, “This is a historic moment for J&K. While football has always been the most popular sport here, this is the first time we are seeing a professionally organised, franchise-based league.”

Yousuf said that the league was being organised in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council and features six privately owned franchises that will compete in a professional setup. Prominent local businesses such as Khyber Cements, Arco Group, Aqua Company and others have come on board as team owners after undergoing a structured selection process.

Yousuf said that a total of 120 players were shortlisted and divided into three categories—Diamond, Gold, and Silver—for the auction. The auction, as per the organisers, will see team mentors and selectors bid for top local talent, with player salary slabs ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000.

Secretary of J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull, while speaking on the occasion, lauded the initiative as a major breakthrough for youth engagement and sports development in the region.

“This league is more than just football—it is a platform for our youth to showcase their talent, stay engaged in positive pursuits, and dream big. The Sports Council is proud to be a part of this historic journey. We believe KSL will become a model for other states to follow.”

Yusuf added that the primary objective of the league was to create a vibrant sports ecosystem in the region.

“Beyond competition, the idea is to bring players, fans, officials, and the wider community together on a common platform. In times of rising digital distractions and social issues like drug abuse, sports can play a unifying and transformative role,” he said.

The league will feature 19 matches, all to be held at TRC Ground, Srinagar, with several matches scheduled under floodlights. Efforts have also been made to coordinate with departments to ensure availability of players during the tournament window.

He said that top-tier Kashmiri players like Danish Farooq, Sohail Bhat, and Sajjad Parray couldn’t participate due to their ongoing contracts; the league has roped in football legends like Abdul Majeed Kakroo, Ishfaq Ahmed, Sajid Dar, and Hilal Rasool Parray as mentors to lend prestige and technical insight to the competition.

“This is just the beginning. We are confident this league will evolve into a major sporting attraction and create a football culture that rivals national leagues,” Yusuf said.