Siddhartha Bank title-sponsored Nepal Premier League live on Star Sports

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 16: In what Paras Khadka, secretary at the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), said to be a ‘record-breaking sponsorship deal’, Siddhartha Bank has been agreed as the title sponsor of the 1st edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

Revealing the deal amidst a press conference in the capital city of Kathmandu Friday evening, Siddhartha Bank will sponsor the NPL for five years.

“Yes, for now, a contract has been signed for five years. But it is not what Siddhartha Bank and its sister organisations will allow. As our motto ‘Relationship Forever’ suggests, we will be supporting Nepali cricket forever,” said Manoj Kumar Kedia, chairman of Siddhartha Bank.

While Khadka did not reveal the exact amount of the sponsorship deal with Siddhartha Bank, he assured that it was not hidden for wrong. “The amount will be disclosed sooner or later,” Khadka said.

“It seemed like the best opportunity for us to invest in Nepali cricket. We will not stop now. We plan to expand cricketing infrastructure and culture throughout the corners of Nepal by coordinating with CAN,” said Sundar Prasad Kadel, CEO of Siddhartha Bank.

On the other hand, the first season of the NPL, the first franchise league of Nepal under CAN’s ownership, will be broadcast to the global audience through Star Sports.

“I know how emotional Nepali fans were to see the men’s team represent the country for the first time in the World Cup through the channels of Star Sports. Now, we will be seeing our domestic league in one of the biggest sports channels and showcase Nepali cricket’s ability to the world,” said Khadka, the captain who led Nepal to the World Cup in 2014.

Khadka thanked their Event Strategy and Marketing Consultant, TCM Sports, for managing the opportunity to broadcast the NPL on Start Sports.

“We cannot show our event on Start Sports with money alone. We need the designated slots. TCM Sports did a great job. And it was also supported by the craze and love for cricket in Nepal followed by the achievements of Nepali cricketers on global platforms,” Khadka stressed.

According to Khadka, CAN will reveal the fixtures for the NPL within 48 hours. “I would like to inform that the NPL will be inaugurated on November 30 as fixed earlier but there will be no match on December 1 due to by-elections in the country, including in Kirtipur,” he added.

Meantime, the NPL franchise teams continued to sign foreign players as the deadline approached.

Lumbini Lions announced their fourth foreign player signing on Friday. Left-arm Barbadian pacer Ramon Simmonds will join Unmukt Chand, Tom Moores, and Ben Cutting.

Chitwan Rhinos has signed England cricketer Ravi Bopara for the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The announcement was made late Thursday. In addition to Bopara, other international cricketers joining the Rhinos include Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Marchant De Lange, Luc Benkenstein, and Hassan Eisakhil.