Milestone In Nepali Cricket

The inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament, concluded on Saturday, has set milestone in Nepali cricket. The tournament, which ran from November 30 to December 21 featured eight franchise teams representing different cities of Nepal. The Janakpur Bolts emerged as the champions, clinching their first title by defeating the Sudurpaschim Royals in the final. From the word go, NPL took the nation by storm and the euphoria continued till the concluding day. The domestic tournament never before had succeeded to draw house-full spectators almost in all of the matches of NPL at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. Moreover, people travelling to cheer on their favourite teams from different parts of the nation truly made NPL, 'Festival of Himalayas'.

The NPL not only showcased the talent within Nepal but also brought international attention to the country's cricketing prowess. The presence of international big names like India's Shikhar Dhawan, New Zeland's Martin Guptill and James Neesham, England's Ravi Bopara, Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Hussain Talat added a layer of excitement and competitiveness to the league. By rubbing the shoulders with the global cricket stars not only helped Nepali cricketers learn a lot but also helped in boosting their confidence. In addition, the NPL also becomes an important source of income of Nepali cricketers. The earnings from NPL can motivate the domestic players to pursue cricket as a profession. 

After COVID-19, Nepali sports was struggling to find the sponsors. The NPL, however, has succeeded to lure big private sectors into investing to the franchise teams. There was no dearth of sponsors to the NPL or to the teams, making the event worth more than Rs 700 million. The successful organisation of the tournament has increased the brand value of the NPL, which could attract more investment in the future. The champion got the biggest prize money.  By bringing the Star Sports Network, an international TV network, as the official broadcaster, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was able to showcase the Nepalis' passion for the cricket on the global stage, transforming NPL as the best franchise tourney of the Associate crickets. 

The NPL has set a high bar for future seasons, with its successful blend of local talent and international stars. As we look forward to the next season, the NPL promises to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring cricketers at home. The NPL 2024 will be remembered as the dawn of a new era in Nepali cricket, one that holds the promise of event greater achievements and milestones in the years to come. 

While felicitating the players and managers of Janakpur Bolts at official residence at Baluwatar on Sunday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said the team played a role in lifting up the standard of Nepali cricket. "This is the victory of all the Nepalis. It is a victory for Nepali cricket," said PM Oli. The success of NPL undeniably shows the potential of sport tourism in Nepal. In order to tap it, the government should invest in the development of sports infrastructures with lucrative schemes for the players. There still lies legal hurdles to lift the games like cricket and football on a par with the international standards.  Sports authorities often complained that the process of bringing foreign players and investment into the country was fraught with bureaucratic and legal hassles. The government should ease the process in allowing the labour permit for the excellent foreign players.