Assam Premier League: Abu Nechim calls APL a launchpad for hidden talent
Synopsis
Over 270 players entered the Assam Premier League auction, yet former India pacer Abu Nechim knew fewer than half of them — a statistic that, more than any press release, captures why the APL matters. For a state that produced Riyan Parag, the franchise T20 format could be the pipeline Assam cricket has been missing.
Key Takeaways
Abu Nechim , former India fast bowler and Guwahati Royals member, has backed the Assam Premier League (APL) as a vital platform for emerging state talent.
The inaugural APL auction drew over 270 players , of whom Nechim was aware of only around 120 , underscoring the depth of undiscovered talent in Assam.
Nechim cited the rise of Riyan Parag — Assam-born Rajasthan Royals captain and India all-rounder — as a model for what the league can achieve.
The APL features eight franchise teams and is organised by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) under the motto 'Aamar Axom, Aamar Gourab' .
Matches will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar , giving the tournament national visibility from its first season.
Former India fast bowler Abu Nechim has described the Assam Premier League (APL) as a critical platform for the state's undiscovered cricketers, saying the newly launched franchise T20 tournament will give long-overdue visibility to players who have never had a stage at this level. Nechim made the remarks in a statement issued by the tournament on Wednesday, 22 July, from Guwahati.
What Nechim Said
"The Assam Premier League is very important, it is a genuinely good platform for our juniors. We had over 270 players in the auction, and I had knowledge of only about 120 of them. That tells you the sheer depth of undiscovered talent across Assam. The league gives every one of those players a stage to be seen," Nechim said.
He added: "Every player and every franchise has the same aim, to win the tournament. But imagine if players from the APL franchises go on to play the IPL, or even for India, next year. That is the real opportunity this league offers, and it will serve Assam cricket for years to come."
Nechim's Cricketing Background
Nechim is no stranger to high-stakes cricket. He represented India at the 2006 U19 World Cup and went on to play domestic cricket for Assam, before earning IPL contracts with Mumbai Indians (2010–2013) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2014–2016). He is currently part of the Guwahati Royals set-up in the APL.
The Riyan Parag Parallel
Drawing on his own journey and the rise of Rajasthan Royals captain and India batting all-rounder Riyan Parag — himself a product of Assam cricket — Nechim argued that the APL can serve as precisely the kind of bridge between state-level cricket and elite national platforms that the region has long lacked. Parag's trajectory from Assam domestic cricket to IPL captaincy and India colours is widely seen as a template for what structured exposure can achieve.
About the Assam Premier League
Organised under the aegis of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), the APL carries the official motto 'Aamar Axom, Aamar Gourab' (Our Assam, Our Pride) and features eight franchise teams drawn from across the state. The inaugural edition will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, giving the tournament national reach from its very first season.
With over a quarter of a thousand players entering the auction pool and only half of them known even to an insider like Nechim, the APL's first edition will be a genuine talent census for Assam cricket — and, potentially, a scouting ground for IPL franchises watching from the sidelines.
Point of View
Fewer than half known to a seasoned Assam insider. That is not a talent gap — it is a scouting failure that structured franchise cricket can begin to fix. Riyan Parag's rise is often cited as inspiration, but it was also an exception; the APL's value will be measured by whether it produces a second and third Parag, not whether it mirrors the IPL's gloss. Star Sports and JioHotstar distribution gives the league national reach, which means IPL scouts will watch — and that changes the incentive structure for every player on the field.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Assam Premier League (APL)?
The Assam Premier League is a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament organised by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), featuring eight teams from across the state. Its inaugural edition is broadcast on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, with the motto 'Aamar Axom, Aamar Gourab' (Our Assam, Our Pride).
Why has Abu Nechim praised the Assam Premier League?
Nechim highlighted that the APL auction drew over 270 players, of whom he personally knew only around 120, pointing to the vast pool of undiscovered talent in Assam. He believes the league gives every player a visible stage and can serve as a bridge to the IPL and national cricket.
Who is Abu Nechim and what is his cricketing background?
Abu Nechim is a former India fast bowler who played at the 2006 U19 World Cup and represented Assam in domestic cricket. He had IPL stints with Mumbai Indians (2010–2013) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2014–2016), and is currently part of the Guwahati Royals set-up in the APL.
How does the APL connect to Riyan Parag's story?
Riyan Parag, the Assam-born Rajasthan Royals captain and India batting all-rounder, is seen as proof that structured exposure can take a state-level cricketer to the highest levels. Nechim drew on Parag's journey to argue that the APL can replicate that pathway for more players.
Where can fans watch the Assam Premier League?
The inaugural edition of the Assam Premier League will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, giving it national reach from its very first season.
