NPL established to support, uplift cricket and its stakeholders: CAN

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 12: The major target of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is to lay a foundation for the development of cricket and to support the involved players, officials and stakeholders in the long run, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) informed.

Talking with journalists at an interaction programme on the NPL, CAN’s secretary Paras Khadka informed that the Nepali cricket’s governing body aims to make the NPL one of the most famous cricket leagues in the world.

“Contemporarily, the CAN seems to be in a lot of profit in the preliminary phase of the NPL itself. However, we are certain that neither the CAN nor the franchise owners will benefit economically from the NPL for now,” Khadka said, adding, “We had clarified to the owners first-hand that they will have to invest for at least three years before the NPL starts giving back. We have a 10-year plan for the 

franchise teams.”

Similarly, stressing that the CAN planned to organise the second edition of the NPL under the floodlights, Khadka argued that the first edition would also be a blast. Also, the CAN expects to use multiple venues from the third edition. 

“More and more foreign players, including great names, are getting associated with the NPL while the public is also waiting for the tournament eagerly,” Khadka said.

However, with fame comes challenges as well. The CAN has a high challenge to prevent match-fixing and corruption throughout the League as such incidents have occurred in the former franchise leagues in the country. As a result, the NPL received some restrictions from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“We aim to end the restrictions over the NPL by the ICC from the next edition. To ensure that the NPL has no wrongdoings, an anti-corruption unit has been made active with the involvement of experts from the Nepal Police. Retired Additional Inspector General of Police Ishwar Babu Karki is leading the team from the CAN,” 

said Khadka.

Likewise, the CAN ensured that all the foreign players would be playing after receiving work permits and the concerned authorities were looking after it.

As per Khadka, the CAN also aims to increase coordination with media to ensure that the NPL can help sports journalists pursue cricket as a full-time profession as well.

“Overall, the NPL will be a foundation to support all stakeholders of Nepali cricket. The NPL will also provide major support to the country’s economy, alongside tourism, in the future,” said Khakda.

The CAN also revealed that the TU International Cricket Ground, the venue for the NPL, will have separate zones with separate gates for which separate tickets will be sold to make it easier for the audiences who reach the stadium. The NPL is kicking off on November 30.