Nepal Premier League from today

Kathmandu, Nov. 30: Cricket fans in Nepal are now thrilled as the Nepal Premier League is beginning on Saturday. Officials at the Cricket Association of Nepal have said that they have almost completed preparations to host the national mega-cricket tournament.  

"We have completed around 99 per cent of the preparations for the Nepal Premier League. The preparations will be completed by tomorrow by the time the first ball of the tournament hits the pitch at 12:15 pm," said Chatur Bahadur Chand, President of the Cricket Association of Nepal, on Friday. 

Chand made the remarks at the 'Captain's Media Day' programme at TU International Cricket Ground, the home of Nepali cricket that has received a facelift for the most-anticipated cricketing event, the Nepal Premier League (NPL). 

The NPL, currently the most popular topic across Nepal, is kicking off at TU International Cricket Ground with a match between Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts at 12:15 pm on Saturday.

"I wish the teams all the best. I also expect a great cricketing showdown between Biratnagar and Janakpur as the opening game will set a benchmark for the tournament," said Chand. 

The tickets for the opening game were sold out two days earlier. Based on the new transformation of the TU Ground and the plan for a better-managed tournament, around 10,000 tickets are expected to 

have been sold.

The TU Ground has also been categorised into three zones, and separate gates have been managed for entry. This move was applauded by cricket enthusiasts as a single gate of entry and exit had been causing risks of a stampede.

Similarly, temporary parapets have been managed for VIP sections while the audience can stay updated on the match scores through the 

new digital scoreboard. 

Moreover, the ground and pitch have also been upgraded in several aspects. According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), NPL will ensure a new standard in Nepali cricket. 

Millions invested

The NPL was expected to be organised in November-December as the CAN had announced it in its 2024 calendar in January. 

However, after the auction for the eight franchise teams by the CAN, the hype skyrocketed. On September 5, CAN sold the eight franchise teams at Rs. 168,893,231. 

Then, the decision of eight teams to procure a marquee player for Rs. 2 million each followed by the auction of Nepali players from a minimum base price of Rs. 200,000 to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 million intensified the craze as it showcased that cricket could now be a decent source of livelihood for national-level cricketers. 

Furthermore, the CAN signed an agreement with Siddhartha Bank as the title sponsor for the NPL, which, according to Paras Khadka, CAN's secretary, was a record-breaking deal in Nepal's sports sector. 

Similarly, Omoda&Jaecoo, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, is also giving a car worth over Rs. 6.2 million to the best Nepali player of the tournament. 

The teams have also invested millions of rupees in hiring foreign players, including the likes of Martin Guptill and Shikhar Dhawan. Over 35 players from half a dozen different countries are participating in the NPL.

It is also a result of the craze of Nepali cricket that the NPL will be broadcast on Star Sports for a global audience. 

It was the first time that a Nepali sports event saw such a huge investment and sponsorship. 

"We have to remain patient and support the League for the next three to four years. It will then be decided whether the Nepal Premier League will support Nepali cricket just like how the Indian Premier League supports Indian cricket or not," said Sandeep Lamichhane, the only Nepali player to have played in almost all major cricket leagues in the world.  

Janakpur vs Biratnagar

The first match of the tournament will see Biratnagar Kings facing Janakpur Bolts. Both teams have two New Zealand greats – Martin Guptill for Biratnagar and James Neesham for Janakpur.

"We all are good friends off the pitch. We will be good contenders on the pitch. We all play to win and it will be our intent as well against Janakpur and other teams," said Lamichhane.

When asked about his response towards the Janakpur vs Biratnagar encounter, Anil Kumar Sah, Janakpur's captain, said, "I do not have anything to say now. You will all see at tomorrow's game."