Super Kabaddi League
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox kabaddi league
| name = Super Kabaddi League (SKL)
| image = Super_Kabaddi_League_logo.png
| imagesize = 180px
| caption =
| country = {{Flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan
| administrator = Strawberry Sports Management
Pakistan Kabaddi Federation{{Cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/191228-pakistan-to-host-super-kabaddi-league-in-may|title=Pakistan to host Super Kabaddi League in May|last=Lakhani|first=Faizan|date=15 April 2018|website=Geo.tv}}
| headquarters =
| first = 2018
| last =
| next =
| tournament format = Multistage with Group games, followed by Eliminators and Playoffs{{Cite web|url=https://superkabaddi.com/matches-schedule/|title=Matches Schedule|website=SuperKabaddiLeague.com}}
| participants =10
| champions = Gujrat Warriors
| most successful =Gujrat Warriors
| most raid points = Nasir Ali (68 points)
| most tackle points =
| TV = PTV Sports
| website =
| current =
}}
Super Kabaddi League (SKL) is a professional-level kabaddi league in Pakistan. Its inaugural season was played from May 1 to 10, 2018 in Lahore. This league follows a city-based franchise model.{{cite news|title=Gujrat third team to sign MoU for 1st Super Kabaddi League|url=https://nation.com.pk/05-Apr-2017/gujrat-third-team-to-sign-mou-for-1st-super-kabaddi-league|work=The Nation|date=5 April 2017}} More than a 100 Kabaddi players from Pakistan and abroad were presented in the players' draft, which took place on 23 April 2018 in Lahore. International players from Sri Lanka, Iran, Bangladesh and Malaysia participated in the inaugural edition.{{cite news|last1=Safi|first1=Alam Zeb|title=Super Kabaddi League to have players from around the world|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/271775-super-kabaddi-league-to-have-players-from-around-the-world|work=The News|date=23 January 2018}}
Draft
Drafting of the inaugural season took place on 23 April 2018, with each of the ten franchises given an opportunity to pick a roster of 10 players, which included 2 Platinum, 7 Gold and 1 Foreign player pick.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandsynario.com/super-kabaddi-league-2018-players-draft-live-updates/|title = Super Kabaddi League 2018 Players Draft & Live Updates|date = 23 April 2018}}
Opening ceremony
The formal opening ceremony of the league took place on 1 May 2018 at Alhamra Cultural Complex in Lahore. Film actress-cum-director/producer Reema Khan was the host of the opening ceremony. Singers Nabeel Shaukat Ali and Sara Raza Khan performed during the ceremony.{{cite news|title=10-team Pak Super Kabaddi League begins today|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311581-10-team-pak-super-kabaddi-league-begins-today|work=The News|date=2 May 2018}}
This was the first time that a sports related event of such a scale had been organised in the country.{{cite news|title=Pakistan's Super Kabaddi League from May 1|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/305405-pakistan-s-super-kabaddi-league-from-may-1|work=The News|date=17 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan to host Super Kabaddi League in May|url=https://nation.com.pk/16-Apr-2018/pakistan-to-host-super-kabaddi-league-in-may|work=The Nation|date=16 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=Indian players likely to feature in Pakistan's Super Kabaddi League|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/04/16/indian-players-likely-to-feature-in-pakistans-super-kabaddi-league/|work=Pakistan Today|agency=APP|date=16 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan to host Super Kabaddi League in May|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/191228-pakistan-to-host-super-kabaddi-league-in-may|work=Geo News}}
The event was open for all to attend. It was attended by people from all walks of life as well team owners, officials of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation and many others. The ceremony included several performances, which included Bakhshi Brothers, who also sang one of the songs for Season 1.
Teams and locations
{{Location map+ |Pakistan |width=300|float=right|caption=Cities represented by SKL teams as of 2018|places=
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=34.0167|long=71.5833 |label=Peshawar |position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=32.9999|long=73.0667 |label=Islamabad |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=34.3596|long=73.4710 |label=Muzaffarabad |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=31.5497|long=74.3436 |label=Lahore |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=25.2460|long=62.2861 |label=Gwadar |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=30.6682|long=73.1114 |label=Sahiwal |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=32.5731|long=74.1005 |label=Gujrat |position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=30.1575|long=71.5249 |label=Multan |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=31.4504|long=73.1350 |label=Faisalabad |position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Pakistan |lat=25.0700|long=67.2848 |label=Karachi |position=right}}
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! City !Province |
|---|
| Faisalabad Sherdils |
| Gujrat Warriors
| Gujrat |
| Gwadar Bahadurs
| Gwadar |
| Islamabad All Stars |
| Karachi Zorawar
| Karachi |
| Kashmir Janbaaz |
| Lahore Thunder
| Lahore |
| Multan Sikandar
| Multan |
| Peshawar Haiders
| Peshawar |
| Sahiwal Bulls
| Sahiwal |
Broadcast
SKL was broadcast live on television. The broadcast partner was PTV Sports. In addition to the live telecast, the matches were shown on repeat the following day as well.{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2018/04/25/telenor-brings-pakistans-first-ever-super-kabaddi-league-skl/|title=Telenor Brings Pakistan's First-Ever Super Kabaddi League (SKL)|date=25 April 2018|website=ProPakistani}}
Final
Gujrat Warriors won the inaugural Super Kabaddi League after defeating Faisalabad Sherdils in the final game by 38-26. Gujrat Warriors' Tehseen Ullah was declared the Man of the Final.{{cite news |title=Gujrat Warriors win first Super Kabaddi League |url=https://www.samaa.tv/sports/2018/05/gujrat-warriors-win-first-super-kabaddi-league/ |work=Samaa TV}} Faisalabad's captain Nasir Ali was declared the Player of the League. The winning team received a Rs. 1 million cash prize while the runners-up were given Rs. 500,000.{{cite news |title=Gujrat Warriors win Super Kabaddi League |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1407118 |work=Dawn}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sports governing bodies in Pakistan |state=collapsed}}
Category:Sports governing bodies in Pakistan
Category:Kabaddi competitions in Pakistan
Category:Sports leagues established in 2018