Startup entrepreneur Nishan Sapkota is eager for the Pokhara Avengers to triumph in the Nepal Premier League (NPL). His enthusiasm stems from his admiration for captain Kushal Bhurtel and the team’s connection to his native region. Hailing from Baglung, Sapkota is excited about the inaugural NPL. “I’ve already secured tickets for Saturday’s opening match and plan to watch every game,” he said. “With my favorite player leading the team, the Pokhara Avengers hold special significance for me throughout the tournament.”
Like Sapkota, cricket enthusiasts nationwide are focused on the NPL. Fans abroad are also eagerly anticipating this grand event in Nepali cricket. Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament has garnered attention due to its strong teams and the participation of renowned international players. The investment and allure surrounding cricket teams have heightened public interest in Nepali cricket.
The NPL will commence with a grand opening at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday. The opening match features the Biratnagar Kings against the Janakpur Bolts. CAN spokesperson Chhumbi Lama stated that preparations for the tournament, running until December 20, are in the final stages. “Hosting the NPL is a significant achievement for Nepali cricket. Fans domestically and internationally are showing keen interest,” he said. “The enthusiasm and dedication of Nepali fans have energized CAN.”
Lama emphasized that CAN has more work ahead to sustain fan enthusiasm and develop Nepali cricket. He noted that most foreign players and match commentators are from Nepal. Team practices and related activities are nearing completion.
The NPL, the premier domestic cricket competition, features eight franchise teams competing for the title: Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts, Chitwan Rhinos, Kathmandu Gurkhas, Pokhara Avengers, Karnali Yaks, Lumbini Lions, and Sudurpaschim Royals. The tournament will showcase prominent domestic and international players, including World Cup participants. Each team is allowed a minimum of four and a maximum of six foreign players.
According to the NPL Governing Council’s decision, some teams’ foreign players have arrived in Nepal, while others are expected soon, as per CAN. The presence of renowned domestic and international players is expected to draw large crowds to the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. Tickets for the opening match sold out three days in advance. Subodh Tripathi, chairman of the Pokhara Avengers franchise, stated that the Nepal Premier League has charted a new course for the future of Nepali cricket.
He mentioned that the NPL will play a crucial role in nurturing young talent and advancing professional cricket. Tripathi highlighted their investment in developing cricket as an industry. The team has signed four foreign players and plans to invest 100 million Nepalese rupees for the NPL.
“We aim to foster the growth of professional cricket. It’s not about profit or loss; establishing any business or industry takes time. We are here for cricket development and wish to move forward on that path,” he said. Kushal Bhurtel will captain the Pokhara Avengers.
The team includes Sagar Dhakal, Aakash Chand, Kiran Kumar Thagunna, Narayan Joshi, Bipin Khatri, Dilip Nath, Trit Raj Das, Sunam Gautam, Dinesh Kharel, Amrit Gurung, Andries Gous (USA), Bas de Leede (Netherlands), Matt Critchley (England), Raymon Reifer (West Indies), Michael Leask (Scotland), and Sudeep Aryal (iconic player). Rajiv Kumar serves as the coach.
The Janakpur Bolts feature marquee player Aasif Sheikh, along with Lalit Rajbanshi, Anil Kumar Sah, Rupesh Singh, Kishore Mahato, Aakash Tripathi, Shubh Kansakar, Sher Malla, Hemant Dhami, Arnikoprasad Yadav, Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar, Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand), Joshua Tromp (USA), Sohaib Maqsood (Pakistan), Mohammad Mohsin (Pakistan), Lahiru Milantha (USA), with coach Pubudu Dassanayake.
The Biratnagar Kings are captained by Sandeep Lamichhane and include Lokesh Bam, Pratish GC, Basir Ahmad, Rajesh Pulami Magar, Jitendra Kumar Mukhiya, Anil Kharel, Deepak Bohara, Subash Bhandari, Naren Bhatt, Mrinal Gurung, Aqib Ilyas (Oman), Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Nicholas Kirton (Canada), Chris Sole (Scotland), Ismail Alam (Afghanistan), with coach Kevin O’Brien.
The Lumbini Lions’ marquee player is Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel, joined by Surya Tamang, Bibek Yadav, Sundeep Jora, Ashutosh Ghiraiya, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Durgesh Gupta, Arjun Saud, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam, Vikas Agri, Ben Cutting (Australia), Unmukt Chand (USA), Tom Moores (England), Ramon Simmonds (West Indies), Saad Bin Zafar (Canada), and Arif Shan (iconic player). Nandan Phadnis is the coach.
The Chitwan Rhinos’ marquee player is Kushal Malla, with Rejan Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee, Sharad Vesawkar, Bipin Rawal, Santosh Karki, Dipesh Shrestha, Amar Singh Routela, Deepak Bohara, Ranjit Kumar, Gautam KC, Ravi Bopara (England), Hassan Eisakhil (Afghanistan), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia), Luke Martin Benkenstein (England), Salahuddin Khan (iconic player), and coach Umesh Patwal.
The Kathmandu Gurkhas, led by captain Karan KC, include Shahab Alam, Bhim Sharki, Rashid Khan, Shankar Rana, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Sumit Maharjan, Krishna Karki, Vivek KC, Pratik Shrestha, Raju Rijal, Nathan Sowter (England), Stephen Eskinazi (England), Dan Douthwaite (England), Michael Levitt (Netherlands), Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia), and Krish Karki (iconic player). The team is coached by Basanta Shahi.
The Sudurpaschim Royals, captained by Dipendra Singh Airee, feature players such as Arif Sheikh, Abinash Bohara, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Arjun Kumal, Khadka Bahadur Bohara, Naresh Budhayer, Bhojraj Bhatt, Amit Shrestha, Naren Saud, alongside foreign players Brandon McMullen (Scotland), Saif Ali Zubair (England), Scott Kuggeleijn (New Zealand), Rohan Mustafa (UAE), and Basant Khatri (iconic player). The team is coached by Jagat Tamata, with mentorship by Australian Brad Hodge.
The Karnali Yaks, led by marquee player Sompal Kami, have a strong squad, including Gulshan Kumar Jha, Nandan Yadav, Mausam Dhakal, Arjun Gharti, Dev Khanal, Rit Gautam, Bhuvan Karki, Dipendra Rawat, Deepak Dumre, Unish Vikram Singh Thakuri, and international players such as Shikhar Dhawan (India), Hussain Talat (Pakistan), Babar Hayat (Hong Kong), Chadwick Walton (West Indies), and Zeeshan Maqsood (Oman). Bipin Sharma serves as their iconic player, and Gyanendra Malla is the team coach.
The NPL promises a blend of exciting cricket, with international stars and local talents taking the field in Nepal’s largest cricket event to date. Fans across the country and around the world are eagerly waiting to witness the matches, especially with the high expectations set by marquee players, professional coaches, and the organizational efforts of CAN. This tournament aims to establish a new benchmark for cricket in Nepal and contribute significantly to its development as a professional sport.
