Paras Khadka is a household name across Nepal. Khadka, who captained the Nepali cricket team for more than a decade, is among the most significant contributors to the development of the ‘gentleman’s game’ in the country. Currently serving as the secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the official governing body of the game in the country, Khadka has been busy of late in preparations for the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) powered by Ncell.
The NPL, which is the biggest franchise cricket tournament in terms of investment in Nepal so far, is expected to become a platform for Nepali cricketers, especially the emerging ones, to showcase their talent in the global stage. Set to commence on November 30, the NPL will be broadcasted live by Star Sports, the television channel that also broadcasts the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In this interview with New Business Age, Khadka talks about the financial aspects of the tournament. Excerpts:
NPL is set to be a grand event. Can you share some details about the expenses involved?
This is the most heavily invested tournament in Nepal’s sports history. A significant role is played by investors in the teams for organising this competition. Eight investors have acquired team ownership for ten years through an open bidding process. Each team has invested at least Rs 50 million. CAN, too, has made substantial investment to organise the event on a grand scale.
How much have the sponsors invested?
Siddhartha Bank has come on board as the main title sponsor, and Ncell is also a supporting sponsor. Other brands are ready to join as well. We are preparing to officially announce additional sponsors shortly. We are working on this step by step. This tournament will see the highest brand sponsorship in the history of Nepali sports. The details, however, remain confidential.
While the individual investment cannot be disclosed, can you estimate the total investment being made?
The companies sponsoring the league are investing around Rs 60-70 million in total.
How much has been agreed upon with Star Sports for the broadcasting rights?
We are spending about Rs 40-50 million for the broadcast through the Indian channel. We regard it as an investment to popularise NPL across the globe.
If the broadcast is successful, what is the likelihood of television channels purchasing the NPL broadcasting rights in the future?
I believe that time will come soon. We expect it to garner the attention of the world. We strongly desire to prioritise sports. The goal is to develop sports as an industry. I believe the Nepal Premier League will mark the beginning of that.
The teams have also made significant investments. How long do you think it will take for them to recover their investment?
The future will determine that. We have worked closely with the teams. While they may not see huge profits in the first 2-3 years, I believe they will see substantial returns in the long run.
