The Nepal Premier League (NPL), a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament, kicks off in Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon.
Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the national cricket governing body, this inaugural edition of the tournament has already generated significant buzz with the participation of renowned cricketers from around the globe.
A total of eight teams, representing regions and cities across Nepal, will compete for the coveted trophy, which is engraved with Mount Everest and reportedly contains a stone from Kala Patthar—a popular vantage point at 5,600 meters, known for offering the best view of the world's tallest mountain.
The tournament, featuring 32 matches, will be broadcast through Star Sports, known for its coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This provides a platform for Nepali youngsters to showcase their talents on the global stage.
To host the tournament on a grand scale, the Tribhuvan University (TU) International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur has been revamped with a digital scoreboard and new seating arrangements.
Raman Thapa, a resident of Imadol, Lalitpur, has already secured his ticket to witness big-name players such as Shikhar Dhawan from India, Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham from New Zealand, Joshua Trump from the US, Lahiru Milantha from Sri Lanka, Mohammad Mohsin Khan from Pakistan, and Ben Mike from England competing in Nepal's domestic tournament.
Nepali cricketers, who have often struggled abroad due to a lack of exposure, are expected to gain invaluable experience from the tournament.
If the NPL continues in the years to come without controversy, it could contribute to the sustainable growth of cricket in Nepal.
While team owners have already invested millions, the tournament is also attracting significant attention from Nepal's business community, raising hopes of increased investment in sports in the future.
The Pokhara Avengers, for example, were bought for around NPR 35.7 million, according to RSS, Nepal's state-owned news agency.
The NPL's growing popularity is likely to pressure the government to invest more in infrastructure development, not only for cricket but also for other sports.
Although CAN has not yet disclosed the prize money for the winning team, it has announced that the best Nepali cricketer will receive a car.
The tournament will begin with Janakpur Bolts, representing Madhesh Province, facing Biratnagar Kings from Koshi Province in the opening match at 12:15 PM local time.
Janakpur Bolts, led by Anil Shah—a member of the national cricket team—will feature players like Asif Sheikh, Lalit Rajbanshi, Rupesh Singh, Kishore Mahato, Araniko Prasad Yadav, Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar, Akash Tripathi, Shubha Kansakar, Sher Malla, and Hemant Dhami from Nepal. Their international recruits include Neesham, Trump, Milantha, Mohammad Mohsin Khan, and Mike.
Following IPL's model, each team can field up to four international players at a time. Pubudu Dassanayake, the former head coach of Nepal's national team, will lead Janakpur Bolts.
Biratnagar Kings, led by Nepali spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane, who is also the team's marquee player, will feature domestic players such as Lokesh Bam, Pratish GC, Bashir Ahmed, Rajesh Pulami Magar, Jitendra Kumar Mukhiya, Anil Kharel, Deepak Bohara, Subhash Bhandari, Naren Bhatt, and Munal Gurung. Their international recruits include Aqib Ilyas from Oman, Guptill, Nicholas Kirton from Canada, Chris Soul from Scotland, and Ismail Alam from Afghanistan. Kevin O'Brien, a former Irish cricketer, is the head coach.
In addition to Janakpur Bolts and Biratnagar Kings, the other teams in the tournament are Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gurkhas, Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers, Chitwan Rhinos, and Sudurpaschim Royals.
The tournament will conclude with the final match at the same venue on December 21.
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