Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts will play the first game of the new Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Saturday at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The league is slated to begin in a few days. Ahead of the competition, international players for the eight competing teams have begun to arrive in Nepal.
Biratnagar Kings have signed five foreign players – Martin Guptill, Aqib Ilyas, Nicholas Kirton, Chris Sole, and Ismat Alam. While none of their overseas players had arrived in Nepal as of Wednesday, their coach, Kevin O’Brien, has been in the country since Monday to train the squad in Biratnagar. The team has assured fans through a social media post that the foreign players will arrive soon.
Janakpur Bolts, Biratnagar’s first opponents, have already welcomed some of their international players. Muhammad Mohsin landed on Tuesday, followed by Lahiru Milantha and Ben Mike on Wednesday. Their coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, is also in Nepal to oversee preparations.
Kathmandu Gurkhas have made significant progress in assembling their overseas squad. Michael Levitt arrived three days ago, and Nathan Sowter, Dan Douthwaite, and Stevi Eskinazi joined the team on Wednesday. Gerhard Erasmus is the only international player yet to join the Gurkhas.
The Gurkhas’ first opponents, Chitwan Rhinos, have also been busy welcoming their players. Luc Benkenstein and Jan Nicole Loftie-Eaton arrived on Wednesday. However, the Rhinos are still awaiting the arrival of players like Ravi Bopara and Hassan Eisakhil.
Karnali Yaks, who made headlines by signing Indian cricket star Shikhar Dhawan, have started receiving their foreign recruits. Babar Hayat and Chadwick Walton arrived on Tuesday, while Dhawan’s arrival is still pending.
Pokhara Avengers have welcomed most of their overseas players. Four of their five signings – Raymon Reifer, Matt Critchley, Michael Leask, and Bas de Leede – landed in Nepal on Wednesday. Andries Gous, the NPL’s first-ever foreign signing, is the only player yet to arrive for the Avengers.
Sudurpaschim Royals announced the arrival of their mentor, Bradd Hodge, on Monday, but their foreign players – Brandon McMullen, Saif Zaib, Scott Kuggeleijn, and Rohan Mustafa – are yet to reach Nepal.
The Lumbini Lions, who are home to players like Saad Bin Zafar, Tom Moores, Ben Cutting, Ramon Simmonds, and Unmukt Chand, have not yet announced any player arrivals. On December 4, they will play the Biratnagar Kings in their maiden match.
Teams are actively getting ready with new players and training sessions as the competition draws near. Nepal’s cricket scene will be more exciting as the NPL promises to feature a variety of domestic and foreign talent.
