By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 31: Nepali fans! Be ready to watch the big cricket players of the globe playing at TU Cricket Ground during the nation’s biggest Twenty20 event, Everest Premier League (EPL), scheduled to start from March 14.
EPL, which has been attracting the star cricketers, on Thursday, confirmed West Indies International and a World Cricket Icon Chris Gayle as a big name to play in the franchise-based league. Gayle will be playing from the Pokhara Rhinos for the 2020 EPL season. Announcing the signing owner of Franchise Rhinos Deepa Agarwal said Gayle had been roped in as the iconic player. Rhinos, however, have not revealed about the Gyale’s signing amount.
Confirming his availability to EPL, Gayle, through a video message, urged Nepali cricket fans to get ready for the Gayle Storm. “What’s up Nepal. Yes, It’s Chris Gayle, Universe Boss, King of Twenty20. I will be visiting Nepal for the biggest sporting event to the Everest Premier League.”
He also asked cricket fans to support his team. “Come on, support my team Pokhara Rhinos and be a part of the magnificent cricket fiesta. Nepal be ready for Gayle storm. It would be dashing. See You Soon Nepal, Love and Respect.”
Gayle holds the record for most centuries in Twenty20 cricket (22) and 15 out of his 22 T20 centuries have been not out. On 18 April 2017, Gayle reached the 10,000 runs milestone in T20 cricket after scoring 77 runs off 38 balls playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Along with Gayle, other global cricketers have also confirmed their participation in the EPL. Gayle’s national team mate Dwayne Smith will be playing from Bhairahawa Gladiators. Former Sri Lankan captain Upul Tharanga have joined with Lalitpur Patriots while Afghanistan’s opening batsman and wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad has signed with Chitwan Tigers to play in the EPL. Former South African Skipper Hashim Amla also has announced to be part of EPL but has not committed to any EPL franchises till now.
“A man who is synonymous to T20 cricket will be playing for my team in Nepal’s biggest T20 event. The amount of attention he will bring to Nepali cricket upon his arrival is certainly going to do wonders to not just my team and the league, but the nation as a whole, especially while we’re celebrating Visit Nepal 2020,” Agarwal said.
Managing Director of EPL Aamir Akhtar said the inclusion of Gayle would benefit Nepali cricket as a whole and be instrumental in the promotion of Visit Nepal 2020. “While he is here, we will make him visit iconic places in accessible locations and, perhaps, make him tweet or post about it to promote Nepal all over the world. It was after months of negotiations that we have landed Gayle and now it’s up to every Nepali, whether a cricket fan or not, to utilize his presence to the optimum.”