NPL Season Starts Today With Eight Competing Teams

On 1 Mangsir in Kathmandu, Nepali cricket is set to witness a historic moment: for the first time ever, matches will be played under floodlights, and spectators will watch the games from proper parapet seating. A long-held dream for many is finally turning into reality.

Players will compete in day-night matches under floodlights, while fans enjoy the games seated in the stands. As the second edition of the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) begins today, it marks the start of a new chapter in Nepali cricket.

Players, CAN officials, cricket supporters and Nepalis everywhere are ready to witness this moment. While all matches in the first NPL season were held during the day, this second edition will feature 23 day-night games out of 32 — all to be played under floodlights.

Just on Sunday, CAN officially received the newly installed floodlights and parapet. The defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, will begin their title defence on Monday as they face Kathmandu Gorkhas under those very floodlights. This season, eight franchise teams will compete in the NPL. Here’s a brief look at all eight teams.

1. Janakpur Bolts

Under coach Pubudu Dassanayake last season, Janakpur beat Sudurpaschim Royals in the final to lift the title. This season, their sole aim is to defend that trophy.

The team has changed its head coach and logo, but the mission remains the same. Janakpur has hired West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the new head coach and retained most of its core squad — nine players from the previous season including Aasif Sheikh, captain Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Rupesh Singh, Subash Khakurel and Tul Bahadur Thapa.

Star all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, a standout performer last season, will not feature this time. Released players include Sher Malla, Hemant Dhami, Ariniko Yadav and Akash Tripathi. New signings through auction include Mayan Yadav, Sachin Bhatt, Bikash Agri and Aditya Mehta.

Overseas recruits include Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir (South Africa), Lahiru Samarakkon and Sangeeth Cooray (Sri Lanka), Lahiru Milantha and Sanjay Krishnamurthy (USA), and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia).

Janakpur Squad: Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Shah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Rupesh Singh, Subash Khakurel, Tul Bahadur Thapa, Mayan Yadav, Sachin Bhatt, Bikash Agri, Aditya Mehta, Lahiru Milantha, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Lahiru Samarakkon, Sanjay Krishnamurthy, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Sangeeth Cooray

2. Sudurpaschim Royals

Sudurpaschim will be coached again by Jagat Tamata, one of Nepal’s most successful domestic coaches. The squad includes national stars Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh, along with experienced names like Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara and Ishan Pandey.

Overseas players Scott Kuggeleijn and Harmeet Singh have been retained, while Australian batters Chris Lynn and Josh Brown have been added. The team has signed only four foreign players so far, though up to six are allowed.

Chris Lynn will open, supported by Binod Bhandari and Ishan Pandey. In the middle order are captain Airee, Aarif Sheikh and Josh Brown. Deepak Bohara and Milan Bohara remain strong backup options.

In pace bowling, last season's highest wicket-taker Scott Kuggeleijn leads the attack with Avinash Bohara and Hemant Dhami. Talent hunt pick Hikmat Mahar also features.

Spin options include Harmeet Singh, Naren Saud and support from captain Airee.

Sudurpaschim Squad: Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Avinash Bohara, Naren Saud, Hemant Dhami, Deepak Bohara, Milan Bohara, Dipendra Thapa, Tek Rawat, Hikmat Mahar, Chris Lynn, Josh Brown, Scott Kuggeleijn, Harmeet Singh

3. Karnali Yaks

Led by experienced national pacer Sompal Kami, Karnali won four out of seven league matches last season.

Karnali has retained its core, including Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, Arjun Gharti, Bipin Sharma, Dipendra Rawat and Yunish Bikram Thakuri. They have added all-rounder Pawan Sarraf, spinner Yuvraj Khatri, Dipak Dumre and Imran Sheikh.

Australian all-rounder William Bosisto continues from last season.

Overseas signings also include Mark Watt, Max O'Dowd, Najibullah Zadran and Priyank Panchal.

Karnali Squad: Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, Arjun Gharti, Bipin Sharma, Dipendra Rawat, Yunish Thakuri, Pawan Sarraf, Yuvraj Khatri, Imran Sheikh, Dipak Dumre, William Bosisto, Mark Watt, Max O’Dowd, Najibullah Zadran, Priyank Panchal

4. Chitwan Rhinos

Kushal Malla remains the marquee player. Chitwan has retained six players including Kushal Malla and added experienced overseas players Ravi Bopara and Sohail Tanvir.

New big signings include England’s David Malan and Saif Ali Zaid, the standout player of the previous season.

Chitwan retained Bipin Rawal and Ranjit Kumar and added Dev Khanal and wicketkeeper Arjun Saud in auction. Injured pacer Kamal Singh Airee returns.

Top-order strength includes Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud and Saif Zaid. Malan and Bopara strengthen the middle order.

Bowling options include Ravi Bopara, Saif Zaid, Kushal Malla (spin all-rounders), and pacers Sohail Tanvir, Rijhan Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee and Gautam KC.

Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani has also been signed.

Chitwan Squad: Kushal Malla, Kamal Singh Airee, Rijhan Dhakal, Deepak Bohara, Amar Singh Routela, Gautam KC, Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, Bipin Acharya, Ranjit Kumar, Bipin Rawal, Ravi Bopara, Sohail Tanvir, David Malan, Saif Ali Zaid, Alpesh Ramjani

5. Kathmandu Gorkhas

Kathmandu retained six players including marquee Karan KC and added five players in the mini-auction, including Mohammad Adil Alam Ansari.

The team has strengthened its coaching staff by appointing India’s Monty Desai as head coach, supported by Basanta Shahi Thakuri.

Overseas signings include Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus, American all-rounder Milind Kumar, England’s wicketkeeper John Simpson, South African keeper-batter Ricardo Vasconcelos, Ben Charlesworth and Indian all-rounder Sunny Patel.

Spin strength comes from Erasmus, Milind and Patel, supported by Nepali spinners Shahab Alam and Dipesh Kandel.

Pace options include captain Karan KC and Rashid Khan.

Kathmandu Squad: Karan KC, Bhim Sharki, Shahab Alam, Dipesh Kandel, Rashid Khan, Pratik Shrestha, Adil Alam, Uttam Magar, Akash Tripathi, Tul Bahadur Thapa, Santosh Yadav, Sonu Devkota, Gerhard Erasmus, Milind Kumar, Ben Charlesworth, John Simpson, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Sunny Patel

6. Biratnagar Kings

Biratnagar created major buzz by signing South African superstar Faf du Plessis. Marquee player Sandeep Lamichhane returns, and the team has retained Lokesh Bam and Naren Bhatt while adding Shankar Rana from the auction.

Foreign signings include Martin Guptill (retained), Faf du Plessis, Mearchant de Lange, Sam Heazlett, Shubham Ranjane and Scotland’s George Munsey.

Batting lineup heavily features foreign players at the top: Guptill/Faf, Munsey and Heazlett.

Faf will miss the first few matches due to his T10 League commitments.

In spin, Sandeep Lamichhane is supported by Suryata Tamang, Subash Bhandari and all-rounder Basir Ahmed. Medium-pace options include Pratish GC and Merchant de Lange.

Biratnagar Squad: Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Pratish GC, Basir Ahmed, Naren Bhatt, Subash Bhandari, Suryata Tamang, Sahil Patel, Narayan Joshi, Sharwan Kisku, Shankar Rana, Ayush Neupane, Faf du Plessis, George Munsey, Sam Heazlett, Martin Guptill, Merchant de Lange, Shubham Ranjane

7. Pokhara Avengers

Pokhara has refreshed its branding — new logo, colours and a reshaped squad. Kushal Bhurtel remains the marquee player, with seven players retained including Dinesh Kharel, Sagar Dhakal, Aakash Chand, Bipin Khadka, Kiran Thagunna and Trit Raj Das.

Pokhara prioritized local talent in the auction, adding Arjun Kumal, Sandeep Kshetri, Krishna Paudel and Abhishek Tiwari.

Star all-rounder Jimmy Neesham joins Pokhara after winning the title last season with Janakpur.

Overseas signings include Adam Rossington, Dan Douthwaite, Raymon Reifer and England’s Jason Roy.

Top order includes Bhurtel, Kharel and Rossington, while Arjun Kumal is a promising backup. Middle order features Neesham, Tritraj Das and Kiran Thagunna.

Bowling attack includes spinners Sagar Dhakal and Bipin Karki, and pacer Aakash Chand.

Pokhara Squad: Kushal Bhurtel, Dinesh Kharel, Sagar Dhakal, Aakash Chand, Trit Raj Das, Bipin Khatri, Kiran Thagunna, Arjun Kumal, Sandeep Kshetri, Krishna Paudel, Abhishek Tiwari, Adam Rossington, Raymon Reifer, Dan Douthwaite, Jimmy Neesham, Jason Roy

8. Lumbini Lions

Lumbini, led by Rohit Paudel, aims to forget last season’s disappointing run. The franchise has overhauled its logo, colours, coaching staff and overseas signings.

They retained Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Jora, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam and Tilak Bhandari. Injured Vivek Yadav has been replaced by Sumit Maharjan.

New Nepali additions include medium pacer Durgesh Gupta, Dilip Nath, Sher Malla, Adil Khan and Vishal Patel.

Lumbini appointed Indian coach Robin Singh as mentor, Tinu Yohannan as head coach and continued with Shakti Gauchan as consultant coach.

Overseas recruits include Australian opener Darcy Short, Afghan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, Italy’s Thomas Draca, Namibia’s Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit.

Lumbini Squad: Rohit Kumar Paudel, Sandeep Jora, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam, Tilak Bhandari, Sumit Maharjan, Durgesh Gupta, Dilip Nath, Sher Malla, Adil Khan, Vishal Patel, Darcy Short, Thomas Draca, Gulbadin Naib, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit