Preparations for NPL reach final stage

By Gobinda Regmi,Kathmandu, Nov. 26: Preparations for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) have entered their final stage.

At a press conference held on Saturday, Paras Khadka, Secretary of the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN), confirmed that all preparations, including technical aspects, for the NPL, which is set to begin at the Tribhuvan University Ground on Monday, have now been completed.

Chatu Bahadur Chand, President of CAN, stated that the goal is to make the second edition even more spectacular, building on the enthusiasm generated by the first edition of the NPL.

"We aim to develop the NPL into a major industry within Nepali sport. It has already played a pivotal role in linking Nepali cricket with the global sporting community. For its continued success, CAN requires the support of everyone," President Chand said.

Secretary Khadka added that for the first time, NPL matches will be played under floodlights, offering a fresh experience for spectators. CAN has announced that it will sell 9,450 tickets daily for the event.

Ticket prices have been set between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. All tickets for the inaugural match have already been sold. The opening game will see the defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, take on the Kathmandu Gurkhas at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium at 4:00 PM.

For the inaugural match, the ticket prices have been set at Rs 500 for general seating and Rs 1,500 for premium seating. Similarly, for the league stage and other matches, prices will be Rs 500 for general seating and Rs 1,000 for premium seating.

For the playoffs and other matches, ticket prices will be Rs 1,000 for general seating and Rs 2,000 for premium seating. CAN has also set a flat price of Rs 15,000 for seasonal tickets.

CAN has set a target to generate Rs 400 million from the second edition of the NPL. CAN's Treasurer, Padam Khadka, revealed that the association expects to earn Rs 400 million from this year’s tournament.

He explained, "This season, CAN will generate revenue from various sources, including ticket sales, broadcasting, sponsorships, team registration fees, and more. The breakdown is as follows: Rs 153 million from sponsors, Rs 90 million from participants, Rs 53 million from OTT platforms, Rs 120 million from ticket sales, and Rs 10 million from local broadcast rights."

The NPL, which will run from 1 to 27 November, will also see increased security measures. Two barriers have been placed outside the parapet area to ensure crowd control.

An anti-corruption unit has been established to monitor match-fixing and betting activities. In total, the NPL will feature 32 matches, including the league stage, three playoff games, and the final.