Zeeshan Maqsood, the former captain of Oman, has arrived in Nepal to join the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) team, Karnali Yaks. He was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday by Karnali’s owner, Jhanak Datta Khanal, co-owner Grihendra Ghimire, and others.
Maqsood has played 73 T20 matches for Oman, scoring 1,369 runs and taking 51 wickets. He is also well-acquainted with Nepali cricket.
The Karnali Yaks are coached by Gyanendra, with fast bowler Sompal Kami serving as the marquee player. In addition to Maqsood, the team’s foreign players include Babar Hayat from Hong Kong, Chadwick Walton from the West Indies, and India’s Shikhar Dhawan. Walton and Hayat have already arrived in Nepal.
The squad also features Nepal national team players Gulshan Jha, Dev Khanal, and Nandan Yadav. From the ‘B’ category, the team includes Arjun Gharti, Rit Gautam, Mausam Dhakal, and Bhuwan Karki. The ‘C’ category comprises Dipendra Rawat, Unish Bikram Singh Thakuri, and Deepak Dumre. Through a talent hunt, Bipin Prasad Sharma has been selected as an iconic player.
Previously, Karnali Yaks appointed actress Swastima Khadka as the ‘Face of Karnali Yaks,’ with Sisan Baniya serving as the youth ambassador. Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the NPL is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 21. Karnali will commence their league campaign on December 2 against the Janakpur Bolts.
