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NPL preparations underway at TU Ground, team players & schedule inside with photos

Organizers and ground staff are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the venue is in top condition for one of the nation’s most anticipated cricketing events.

No ads found for this position

NPL preparations underway at TU Ground, team players & schedule inside with photos

KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, is bustling with activity as final preparations are underway for the upcoming Nepal Premier League (NPL) Cricket tournament, set to begin this Saturday.

Organizers and ground staff are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the venue is in top condition for one of the nation’s most anticipated cricketing events.

The stadium has undergone significant upgrades over the past weeks, including improvements to the pitch, seating arrangements, and spectator facilities.

Ground staff have been meticulously working to ensure the pitch meets international standards, while additional efforts have been directed at improving drainage systems in case of unexpected weather disruptions.

The NPL is not just a cricketing spectacle but also a celebration of Nepal’s growing passion for the sport. It provides a platform for young Nepali cricketers to showcase their talents and gain exposure to professional-level competition.

The first match is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with Kathmandu Royals facing off against Pokhara Panthers.

Tickets have already seen high demand, with many outlets reporting near sell-outs.

The event will also be broadcast live for fans unable to attend in person.

As the countdown to the tournament begins, excitement is palpable among cricket enthusiasts nationwide.

Photos: Nabil Paudel/RSS

These are the 8 teams of the Nepal Premier League (NPL):

Biratnagar Kings: Representing State 1, Biratnagar Kings is led by star Nepali spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The team includes players like Lokesh Bam, Pratish GC, Basir Ahmad, Rajesh Pulami Magar, Jitendra Kumar Mukhiya, Anil Kharel, Deepak Bohara, and Subash Bhandari. The team also features prominent international players such as Oman’s Aqib Ilyas, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, Canada’s Nicholas Kirton, Scotland’s Chris Sole, and Afghanistan’s Ismail Alam.

Janakpur Bulls: Representing State 2, Janakpur Bulls boasts of national wicketkeeper-batsman Asif Sheikh. The team also has other key players like Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Rupesh Singh, Kishor Mahto, Akash Tripathi, Shub Kansakar, Sher Mall, Hemant Dhami, Araniko Prasad Yadav, and Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar. Foreign players include New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham, USA’s Joshua Trump, England’s Ben Mike, Pakistan’s Mohammad Mohsin, USA’s Lahiru Milintha, and Canada’s Harsh Thakar.

Chitwan Rhinos: Representing Bagmati State, Chitwan Rhinos is led by power hitter Kushal Malla. Other key players include Rijan Dhakal, Kamalsingh Airi, Sharad Bheswakar, Bipin Rawal, Santosh Karki, Dipesh Shrestha, Amar Singh Ratela, Deepak Bohara, Ranjit Kumar, and Gautam KC. The team also has international players like England’s Ravi Bopara, Afghanistan’s Hassan Azakhil, Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, and England’s Luke Martin Benkenstein.

Kathmandu Gurkhas: The home team, Kathmandu Gurkhas, is led by fast bowler Karan KC. The team also includes promising players like Sahab Alam, Bhim Sarki, Rashid Khan, Shankar Rana, Dipeshprasad Kandel, Sumit Maharjan, Krishna Karki, Vivek KC, Prateek Shrestha, and Raju Rijal. Their foreign players include England’s Nathan Soutar, England’s Stephen Eskinazi, England’s Dan Douthwaite, Netherlands’ Michael Levitt, and Namibia’s Jahaard Erasmus.

Pokhara Avengers: With national opener Kushal Bhurtel as the marquee player, Pokhara Avengers is in the running for the title. Other important players include Sagar Dhakal, Akash Chand, Kiran Kumar Thagunna, Narayan Joshi, Bipin Khatri, Dilip Nath, Trit Raj Das, Sunam Gautam, Dinesh Kharel, and Amrit Gurung. The team’s foreign stars include USA’s Andres Gous, Netherlands’ Bas de Leede, England’s Matt Critchley, West Indies’ Raymond Riefer, and Scotland’s Michael Leask.

Lumbini Lions: The marquee player for Lumbini Lions is Nepal’s captain Rohit Kumar Paudel. The team also includes players like Surya Tamang, Vivek Yadav, Sandeep Jora, Ashutosh Ghiraiya, Tilkaraj Bhandari, Durgesh Gupta, Arjun Saud, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam, and Bikash Agri. International players include Australia’s Ben Cutting, USA’s Unmukt Chand, England’s Tom Moores, West Indies’ Ramon Simmons, and Canada’s Shad Bin Zafar.

Karnali Yaks: Karnali Yaks is one of the most heavily promoted teams, with fast bowler Sompal Kami as the marquee player. The team includes stars like Gulshan Kumar Jha, Dev Khanal, Nandan Yadav, Mausam Dhakal, Arjun Gharti, Rit Gautam, Bhuvan Karki, Deependra Rawat, Deepak Dumre, and Unisvikram Singh Thakuri. Their international lineup features India’s Shikhar Dhawan, Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat, West Indies’ Chadwick Walton, and Oman’s Zeeshan Maqsood.

Sudurpashchim Royals: Sudurpashchim Royals is one of the strongest teams in NPL, with all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee as the marquee player. Other key players include Arif Sheikh, Abhinash Bohara, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Arjun Kumal, Khadakbahadur Bohara, Naresh Budhayar, Bhojraj Bhatt, Amit Shrestha, and Naren Saud. The team also features players from across the world like Scotland’s Brandon McMullen, England’s Saif Ali Jeb, New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn, and UAE’s Rohan Mustafa.

How to Watch the NPL?

The live broadcast of the first edition of the NPL will be available on Star Sports Network on TV and on YouTube via Action Sports HD.

Which Team Plays When?

Mangsir 15 – 12:15 PM – Biratnagar vs Janakpur
Mangsir 17 – 9:15 AM – Kathmandu vs Chitwan
Mangsir 17 – 1:15 PM – Janakpur vs Karnali
Mangsir 18 – 9:15 AM – Sudurpashchim vs Biratnagar
Mangsir 18 – 1:15 PM – Chitwan vs Pokhara
Mangsir 19 – 9:15 AM – Karnali vs Kathmandu
Mangsir 19 – 1:15 PM – Biratnagar vs Lumbini
Mangsir 20 – 9:15 AM – Pokhara vs Janakpur
Mangsir 20 – 1:15 PM – Kathmandu vs Sudurpashchim
Mangsir 21 – 9:15 AM – Karnali vs Chitwan
Mangsir 21 – 1:15 PM – Lumbini vs Pokhara
Mangsir 22 – 9:15 AM – Lumbini vs Sudurpashchim
Mangsir 22 – 1:15 PM – Karnali vs Biratnagar
Mangsir 23 – 9:15 AM – Janakpur vs Lumbini
Mangsir 23 – 1:15 PM – Sudurpashchim vs Chitwan
Mangsir 25 – 9:15 AM – Chitwan vs Lumbini
Mangsir 25 – 1:15 PM – Karnali vs Pokhara
Mangsir 26 – 9:15 AM – Janakpur vs Sudurpashchim
Mangsir 26 – 1:15 PM – Kathmandu vs Lumbini
Mangsir 27 – 9:15 AM – Pokhara vs Biratnagar
Mangsir 27 – 1:15 PM – Kathmandu vs Janakpur
Mangsir 28 – 9:15 AM – Lumbini vs Karnali
Mangsir 28 – 1:15 PM – Biratnagar vs Chitwan
Mangsir 29 – 9:15 AM – Kathmandu vs Pokhara
Mangsir 29 – 1:15 PM – Janakpur vs Chitwan
Mangsir 30 – 9:15 AM – Kathmandu vs Biratnagar
Mangsir 30 – 1:15 PM – Pokhara vs Sudurpashchim
Poush 1 – 9:15 AM – Sudurpashchim vs Karnali
Poush 3 – 9:15 AM – Third Place vs Fourth Place (Eliminator)
Poush 3 – 1:15 PM – First Place vs Second Place (First Qualifier)
Poush 4 – 12:15 PM – Eliminator Winner vs First Qualifier Loser (Second Qualifier)
Poush 6 – 12:15 PM – First Qualifier Winner vs Second Qualifier Winner (Final)