12 cricketers sold for 15 lakh, 3 players’ prices decrease

KATHMANDU: A total of 12 cricket players were sold at maximum prices during the Nepal Premier League (NPL) auction.

From the 27 players in the ‘A’ category, young all-rounders Gulshan Kumar Jha, Anil Sah, Pratish Jisi, and Lalit Rajbanshi were among those who fetched the highest bids.

Notably, bowlers Hemanta Dhami, batter Arjun Saud, and all-rounder Sunam Gautam from the ‘A’ category were unable to secure maximum bids. They were sold in the second phase for amounts lower than the maximum. Wicketkeeper Saud, along with Sunam and Hemant, was sold for five lakh rupees to Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers, and Janakpur Bulls, respectively.

Fast bowler Pratish Jisi was acquired by Biratnagar, spinner Lalit Rajwanshi by Janakpur Bulls, spinner Sahab Alam by Kathmandu Gorkhaz, and batter Bhim Sarkhi also by Kathmandu Gorkhaz at maximum prices. Additionally, spinner Surya Tamang and all-rounder Vivek Yadav were sold to Lumbini Lions, aggressive batter Sandeep Jora to Lumbini Lions, spinner Sagar Dhakal to Pokhara Avengers, and middle-order batter Arif Sekh to Sudurpaschim Royals at maximum prices.

The auction, held in Kathmandu on Sunday, featured 27 players in the ‘A’ category, with a minimum bid of 10 lakh and a maximum bid of 15 lakh rupees. Gulshan attracted significant interest, with seven out of the eight participating franchises vying for his services, while Lumbini Lions could not bid due to already acquiring three players from the ‘A’ category. Eventually, Karnali Yaks secured him through a lucky draw.

Both Gulshan and explosive batter Lokesh Bam from the ‘B’ category drew bids from seven franchises. Young wicketkeeper and batter Lokesh was also acquired by Biratnagar Kings for 15 lakh rupees through a lucky draw. Rupesh Singh was sold for a maximum bid of 10 lakh rupees, secured by Janakpur Bulls through the same draw.

National team member Anil Kumar Sah was also a hot commodity, attracting bids from all franchises except Lumbini Lions. He was ultimately acquired by Janakpur Bulls through a lucky draw.

In a surprising turn, batter Akash Tripathi was unsold for a minimum of five lakh in the first phase but garnered bids of 10 lakh in the second phase, with Janakpur Bulls securing him through a lucky draw. With this, all players from the ‘A’ category were sold.

Lumbini Lions spent the most, totaling 84.75 lakh, while Chitwan Rhinos spent the least at 63 lakh. Each franchise is allowed to spend a maximum of 90 lakh rupees, and they are required to buy three players from the ‘A’ category, four from ‘B’, and three from ‘C’. A total of 136 players were included in the auction across all three categories.

Each team has 11 players, including marquee players: Biratnagar’s marquee spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, Chitwan Rhinos’ Kushal Malla, Janakpur Bulls’ Aasif Sheikh, Karnali Yaks’ Sompal Kami, Kathmandu Gorkhaz’s Karan KC, Lumbini Lions’ Rohit Kumar Paudel, Pokhara Avengers’ Kushal Bhurtel, and Sudurpaschim Royals’ Dipendra Singh Airee.

The NPL, organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), is scheduled to take place from Dec 1 to 21.