CAN Expects Over Rs 400 Million Revenue as NPL Returns

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) expects the second season of the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) to generate more than Rs 400 million in revenue. The league begins on Monday, 17 November, with all eight franchises from the inaugural season returning.

CAN has projected income from sponsorship deals, franchise fees, OTT rights and ticket sales. Treasurer Padam Khadka said the association has already secured sponsorship agreements worth Rs 154 million. “Rs 90 million will come from team owners this season,” he said. 

The OTT broadcast rights have been sold to the DishHome Go app for Rs 53 million. CAN will receive 71 percent of the revenue once earnings exceed this threshold.

Ticket sales are expected to contribute between Rs 80 million and Rs 120 million, Khadka added. In the first season, CAN reported income of Rs 276.8 million and expenditure of Rs 201.5 million.

The final match will be held on 13 December. CAN General Secretary Paras Khadka said the prize money remains unchanged. More than half the fixtures will be played under newly installed floodlights. A new parapet with seating for up to 10,000 spectators will also be open for the first time.

In the league’s inaugural season, the Janakpur Bolts won the title and Rs 11 million. Sudurpaschim Royals received Rs 5.1 million as runners-up. Karnali Yaks placed third and earned Rs 2.5 million, while Chitwan Rhinos finished fourth with Rs 1.5 million.

This year’s season opens at 4 p.m. Monday with a match between the Janakpur Bolts and the Kathmandu Gurkhas. Tickets for the opening game have already sold out. CAN expects this edition to be larger in scale and more organised and exciting than last year.

“Nepali cricket is now in a position to become an industry, but much still remains to be done,” Khadka said.

Organisers said spectator safety is a priority. Several fans were injured in a stampede-like incident last year. Khadka urged only ticket-holding spectators to come to the ground.

He also requested political groups not to stage protests in the Kathmandu Valley during the month-long event. If protests are unavoidable, he said, they should be held outside the Valley.