The first ever Nepal Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament is about to start on Saturday, promising a lively atmosphere and high expectations for a potential breakthrough in Nepali cricket.
Named as the ‘Festival of Himalayas’, the NPL has garnered worldwide attention, with renowned cricketers like former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan and New Zealand allrounder James Neesham participating in the eight-team competition running until December 21.
Now, with Star Sports Network on board as the league’s official broadcasting partner, it will gain global exposure due to their ownership of key sports events like the Indian Premier League, English Premier League, Wimbledon, and ICC tournaments.
Collaboration with Twenty-first Century Media (TCM) Sports, a sports management company that has handled Cricket World Cups, Asia Cups, IPL, and other global events, shows that the NPL aims to become a significant cricketing event worldwide.
The Cricket Association of Nepal’s organizer seems committed to making the league a significant event, with the goal of propelling Nepali cricket to a new era of growth and international recognition.
CAN Spokesperson Chhumbi Lama told the Post that the establishment of the NPL is a significant accomplishment for CAN and Nepali cricket.
Lama stated that broadcasting our domestic tournament globally for the first time will position the NPL as the perfect stage to raise Nepali cricket’s profile on the international level. The first league could spark a golden era for Nepali cricket.
CAN has developed ambitious strategies to grow the league in upcoming seasons, such as hosting games in multiple venues, playing matches at night, and possibly implementing a home-and-away format within five years.
Lama stated that this year the NPL tournament would take place at the TU Cricket Ground and due to the ongoing construction of eight cricket stadiums, they intend to extend to cities beyond the Kathmandu Valley. “If floodlights were to be set up at TU Ground, upcoming games would become more stunning.”
CAN has created a detailed business plan to secure the league’s longevity, aiming to draw in funding from the government and global grants.
Lama further stated that this would lead Nepali cricket towards a commercial era and open up opportunities for additional growth in the sport.
CAN is attempting to create its own franchise league again after the failure of its last attempt. The Nepal T20 League in the 2022/23 season was planned, but it ended in disaster due to spot-fixing accusations, leading to the Central Investigation Bureau getting involved and multiple arrests.
CAN was also criticized for its mishandling, carelessness, and ineptitude. In the end, the agreement with Seven3Sports, which had acquired the tournament rights for eight years without going through a competitive bidding process, had to be canceled.
This time, CAN appears dedicated to enforcing strict measures to protect the integrity of the NPL in their attempt to create a successful franchise cricket league.
During the NPL, Ishwor Babu Karki, a retired AIG and Head of Integrity at CAN, will be in charge of overseeing anti-corruption, safeguarding, security, and anti-doping for the cricket governing body.
“We have learned from our past errors.” Lama stated that the NPL will be fair.
Karki will be responsible for ensuring the honesty of the NPL. According to him, CAN has also collaborated with all relevant departments to ensure compliance with the ICC protocol.
CAN seeks to guarantee a controversy-free league.
The NPL is aiming to revolutionize domestic cricket by following in the footsteps of previous tournaments such as Everest Premier League, Dhangadhi Premier League, and Pokhara Premier League, while also offering crucial financial support to local players.
One of the main points of interest is the league’s title sponsorship agreement with Siddhartha Bank Limited, considered the biggest sponsorship deal in Nepali sports history. The specific details of the agreement have not been revealed.
In the auction, a total of Rs50 million rupees was spent by all eight franchise teams: Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Janakpur Bolts, Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gurkhas, Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers, and Sudurpaschim Royals. They signed top players for 2 million each, while players categorized as A, B, and C were auctioned at prices starting from Rs20,000 up to Rs1.5 million.
The significant investment highlights the league’s goal of reshaping the image of cricket in Nepal and offering strong financial backing to local players.
Even though CAN gives monthly rewards to national athletes, NPL presents an opportunity for numerous local cricket players to establish long-term careers in their homeland.
