Overseas players start arriving for NPL

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 28: The first match of the inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League is only a few days away, and the overseas players signed by the eight teams have started arriving in the mountainous country of Nepal. The NPL begins on Saturday with Biratnagar Kings facing Janakpur Bolts at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Biratnagar Kings have signed five overseas players – Martin Guptill, Aqib Ilyas, Nicholas Kirton, Chris Sole and Ismat Alam. None of their players arrived in Nepal until Wednesday, but their coach, Kevin O'Brien, came to Kathmandu and reached Biratnagar on Monday to train the squad.

Nevertheless, Biratnagar has hinted that the five foreign players will be making a touchdown in Nepal soon; the team, on Wednesday, posted a representative photo on social media where the foreign players informed their arrival in Nepal soon.

On the other hand, some of Janakpur's players have already arrived. Muhammad Mohsin arrived on Tuesday, while Lahiru Milantha and their newest signing, Ben Mike, came on Wednesday. Their coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, is also in the country. 

Similarly, Kathmandu Gurkhas' overseas players are also in Nepal. While Michael Levitt landed in Kathmandu three days ago, Nathan Sowter, Dan Douthwaite and Stevi Eskinazi arrived on Wednesday. Gerhard Erasmus is yet to come for the Gurkhas.

Regarding Kathmandu Gurkhas' opponent in their first game on December 2, Chitwan Rhinos were also seen busy welcoming their players on November 27. Luc Benkenstein and Jan Nicole Loftie-Eaton came on Wednesday to play for the Rhinos. They still have players like Ravi Bopara and Hassan Eisakhil to come.

Likewise, Karnali Yaks, the team that raised the bars with the signing of Shikhar Dhawan, have also started seeing their foreign players arrive. While Dhawan has not arrived yet, Karnali welcomed Babar Hayat and Chadwick Walton on Tuesday.

Pokhara Avengers were also at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Wednesday to welcome four of their five foreign signings – Raymon Reifer, Matt Critchley, Michael Leask and Bas de Leede. Pokhara's as well as NPL's first foreign signing, USA's Andries Gous, is the only remaining player to arrive. 

While Sudurpaschim Royals made public the arrival of their mentor, Bradd Hodge, on Monday, their overseas players – Brandon McMullen, Saif Zaib, Scott Kuggeleijn and Rohan Mustafa – were yet to land in Nepal.

Nevertheless, Lumbini Lions, with players like Unmukt Chand, Tom Moores, Ben Cutting, Ramon Simmonds and Saad Bin Zafar, have not welcomed their players in Nepal yet. Lumbini is playing their first game on December 4 against Biratnagar Kings.