Nepal’s EPL Twenty20 cricket tournament, a significant step towards development of the country’s cricket sport, is coming after an 8-month-long suspension faced by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and was sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Nepali Premier League (NPL) tournament, being organized by a private entity, marks the first-ever auction of local cricket players at the national-level and will also see the participation of international cricket players.

Grand Announcement

EPL Pvt. Ltd. unveiled the championship trophy on December 17, 2017 with the Indian cricketer Arun Lal as one of key dignitaries at the event.

     Kathmandu Kings and Lalitpur Patriots in the first match 

“EPL is a start of something big which is very essential. Indian Premier League (IPL) has not only raised generation of cricketers, but also changed the face of sport in India. EPL is providing an environment where cricketing potential can prosper,” Lal said in his address at the inaugural event.

While Bhairahawa Gladiators is the only team that announced international players, Sri Lankan cricketer Farveez Maharoof is the only biggest name associated with EPL so far.

“There are players coming in from other countries making it a tournament that we had never competed in. This has certainly lifted the level of Nepali cricket. The international players have the experience of playing in high-level cricket. Their presence also means an opportunity for us to learn a lot of things from them,” says Sharad Vesawkar, Gladiators’ team lead.

Kathmandu Kings Vs. Lalitpur Patriots

The first match under the tournament will see an intense battle between Kathmandu Kings XI, led by the Sri Lankan cricketer Farveez Maharoof, and Nepali cricketer Gyanendra Malla’s Lalitpur Patriots team.

“The first match of the tournament is always going to be important for us. The playing conditions look pretty decent here. We have a good squad and hopefully we are going to make a winning start,” says Maharoof.

Speaking on the inaugural match, Lal had earlier stated, “If you have a 19-year old home-grown talent who ends up bowling out Maharoof for a duck, it instils a huge amount of self-belief.”

While Kathmandu Kings has Sri Lankan cricketer Akshu Fernando and Sagar Kumar of India as squads, its rival Lalitpur Patriot roped in Indian players including the former Delhi Daredevils all-rounder Yogesh Nagar, Subod Bhati and Jaykishan Kolsawala.

“I think they (Kings XI) have become even better by the inclusion of Maharoof because Kings XI are already a better side. We have a balanced squad and would like to play the best cricket to return with victory,” says Malla.

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The six-team city-based franchise league will be the country’s one of the most watchable sporting events, says Everest Premier League (EPL) Pvt Ltd., organizer of the event.

EPL made this statement as it informed about tournament updates on December 05, 2017.

“We have been working closely with international vendors who have experience of working in Indian Premier League. We can assure that TU grounds will get a completely different look for EPL,” reads a press statement by EPL Managing Director Aamir Akhtar.

Through this league, EPL is introducing third umpire system in the history of Nepali cricket, which is generally used for monitoring run outs and stumping. “We can only manage third umpire for run outs and stumpings,” informed Akhtar.

Akhtar further said that they are aiming at attracting as many spectators as possible to establish a good crowd culture in Nepal.

Former national cricket team Skipper and current Nepali U-19 team Coach Binod Das is acting as the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of EPL. Nepal can expect a lot from EPL, says Das.

“We are trying to make EPL the most watchable sporting event of the country not only in terms of television but also in terms of ground entertainment that crowd can get,” Das adds.

Highest-ever Cash Prize

The winner of the league will get a cash prize of Rs 2.5 million, the highest-ever cash prize provided by any Nepal’s domestic cricketing event so far.

Kathmandu Kings XI, Lalitpur Patriots, Chitwan Tigers, Biratnagar Warriors, Pokhara Rhinos and Bhairahawa Gladiators are the teams participating in the league.

While 10 Nepali players were selected through auction, EPL makes it mandatory for every team to have at least three international recruits and one player in the squad selected through the talent hunt.

Besides 15-member Marquee squad, Paras Khadka (Warriors), Gyanendra Malla (Patriots), Shakti Gauchan (Rhinos), Sompal Kami (Kings XI) and Sharad Vesawkar (Gladiators) are among six marquee players already announced.

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