Sharjah Cricket Stadium is gearing up to host a star-studded evening of high-energy tape ball cricket, as the Smart Union Premier League (SPL) returns for its second season on May 23. Featuring a fusion of street cricket flair and global cricket icons, the event promises to be one of the most entertaining spectacles of the year.
Legends return for a tape ball twist
The SPL will bring together eight teams and over 20 internationally recognized players from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Afghanistan. The lineup includes some of the biggest names in cricket history, ensuring broad fan appeal and a sense of nostalgia for supporters across generations.
Star players include: Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Kamran Akmal, Imran Nazir, Sohail Tanvir, Sharjeel Khan, Nauman Ali, Umar Gul, Salman Butt, and Umar Akmal.
Adding international firepower are Imran Tahir (South Africa), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), and Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), further solidifying the SPL’s status as a global tape ball showcase.
Afridi rallies fans for a family cricket night
Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain and one of the most recognizable faces in world cricket, has been actively promoting the event. On May 3, he shared a video on Instagram encouraging families and fans to join him in Sharjah for a festival of cricket under the lights.
The explosive all-rounder invited audiences to experience a unique mix of cricketing legends and tape ball specialists in action, calling the SPL a celebration of cricket’s grassroots energy with the excitement of professional-level presentation.
Elevating tape ball cricket to a global platform
Tape ball cricket, long revered as the informal launchpad for raw talent across South Asia, will take center stage in one of the world’s most iconic venues. What began as a backyard and street format has evolved into a televised, high-profile event that brings together entertainment, nostalgia, and top-tier athleticism.
The SPL’s unique format, combining six-hitting showdowns with high-profile appearances, aims to redefine tape ball cricket as a serious, spectator-driven format with international potential.
With major names from five cricketing nations, fan engagement across platforms, and a festival-like atmosphere planned at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the SPL Season 2 is poised to deliver non-stop action and a celebration of cricket’s street roots.
SPL May 23 – What to expect
- Date: May 23
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
- Format: Tape ball cricket
- Teams: 8
- Players: Over 20 international stars and tape ball legends
With cricketing icons, competitive tape ball action, and a growing fan base, the Smart Union Premier League is not just an exhibition—it’s an evolution of cricket culture.
