Nepal Premier League
Tournament logo
| |
| Countries | Nepal |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) |
| Headquarters | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| First edition | 2024 |
| Latest edition | 2025 |
| Next edition | 2026 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin and playoffs |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Current champion | Lumbini Lions (1st title) |
| Most successful | Janakpur Bolts Lumbini Lions (1 title each) |
| Most runs | Rohit Paudel (555) |
| Most wickets | Scott Kuggeleijn (27) |
| TV | List of broadcasters |
| Website | nplt20.com |
| Seasons |
|---|
The Nepal Premier League (NPL), also known as the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Nepal, organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal.[2][3] Founded in 2024, the league features eight franchise teams based on provinces or major cities.[4][5]
The league is held every year between November and December.[6] The tournament follows a round-robin format, with the top teams moving forward to the playoffs.
Background and history
[edit | edit source]In 2022, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) organized the Nepal T20 League after signing a रु. 330 million agreement with the Indian sports management company Seven3Sports to host a franchise Twenty20 league tournament in Nepal for one year. However, the league was marred by several controversies and allegations, including match-fixing and corruption.[7][8]
The match between Kathmandu Knights and Biratnagar Super Kings on 3 January 2023 was delayed by two hours after players refused to take the field due to unpaid salaries.[9] Players had been contracted to receive 40% of their payments before the start of the tournament and the remaining 60% during the event. Only players from Pokhara Avengers and Lumbini All Stars had received 50% of their contracted amount, while others had received nothing. The game resumed after CAN officials assured the players that their payments would be processed.[10]
On 4 January 2023, the captain of Kathmandu Knights, Gyanendra Malla, revealed that one of his teammates had been approached with a match‑fixing proposal, and that the matter had been reported to the tournament's Anti‑Corruption Unit.[11]The incident was reported to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit, which subsequently dispatched a team to Nepal to investigate the allegations.[12] The Central Investigation Bureau also formed specialized teams to look into the claims.[13][14] The Bureau’s preliminary investigation revealed that three Nepali and four foreign players were under surveillance for suspected spot-fixing. Evidence also suggested that Seven3Sports, the event’s management company, was involved in the wrongdoing.[15] As a result, the league was ultimately shut down.[16]
Foundation of the Nepal Premier League
[edit | edit source]Following the shutdown of the Nepal T20 League and the Nepal national cricket team’s qualification for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, the Cricket Association of Nepal announced in January 2024 the launch of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), scheduled for November and December.[17]
On 2 August 2024, CAN invited proposals for franchise ownership,[18][19] later confirming that the 2024 Nepal Premier League would feature eight teams, each representing a major city in Nepal.[20] This marked an expansion from previous competitions such as the Everest Premier League and the Nepal T20 League, which fielded only six teams.[21][22]
To determine team ownership, CAN held a franchise auction on 5 September 2024. All eight teams were sold through a bidding process for a combined total of रु. 16,88,93,231.[23] The franchise representing Pokhara fetched the highest price at रु. 3,57,00,000, bought by Nepal T-Twenty Cricket Pvt. Ltd. It was followed by the Kathmandu franchise, sold for रु. 3,33,33,339 to Kantipur Publications. The team representing Karnali received the lowest successful bid of रु. 1,11,70,000 from Himalayan Builders.[24]
Prize money of the inaugural season
[edit | edit source]The 2024 season of the NPL offered total prize money of रू2.01 crore (US$150,000).[25]
Player acquisition
[edit | edit source]Teams acquire players through an auction.[26] Each team has a squad of 16 players, with the opportunity of signing up to four foreign players and one marquee player from a random draw.[27][28] Unsold players at the auction can become replacement signings.[29] Teams operate under a salary cap.[30]
Teams
[edit | edit source]The league has eight teams based in provinces and cities across Nepal.
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value.| Team | City | Debut | Captain | Head coach | Owner(s) | Auction bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biratnagar Kings | Biratnagar, Koshi Province | 2024 | Sandeep Lamichhane | Dhammika Prasad | M.A.D. Dream Sports | रू1.51 crore (US$110,000) |
| Chitwan Rhinos | Bharatpur, Bagmati Province | 2024 | Kushal Malla | Kalam Ali | Chitwan Medical College | रू1.76 crore (US$130,000) |
| Janakpur Bolts | Janakpur, Madhesh Province | 2024 | Wayne Parnell | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | Dream Sports | रू2.05 crore (US$150,000) |
| Karnali Yaks | Birendranagar, Karnali Province | 2024 | Sompal Kami | Gyanendra Malla | Himalayan Builders | रू1.11 crore (US$82,000) |
| Kathmandu Gorkhas | Kathmandu, Bagmati Province | 2024 | Karan KC | Monty Desai | Kathmandu Sports Development Venture | रू3.33 crore (US$250,000) |
| Lumbini Lions | Siddharthanagar, Lumbini Province | 2024 | Rohit Paudel | Tinu Yohannan | Fortuna Health Care | रू1.86 crore (US$140,000) |
| Pokhara Avengers | Pokhara, Gandaki Province | 2024 | Kushal Bhurtel | Rajiv Kumar | Nepal T20 Cricket Pvt. Ltd. | रू3.57 crore (US$260,000) |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | Dhangadhi, Sudurpashchim Province | 2024 | Dipendra Singh Airee | Jagat Tamata | Empire Sports | रू1.68 crore (US$120,000) |
Finals
[edit | edit source]| Season | Final | Player of the season | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Result | Runner-up | Venue | ||
| 2024 | Janakpur Bolts 185/5 (19.2 overs) |
Janakpur Bolts won by 5 wickets Scorecard |
Sudurpaschim Royals 184/9 (20 overs) |
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur | Saif Zaib (Sudurpaschim Royals) |
| 2025 | Lumbini Lions 86/4 (9 overs) |
Lumbini Lions won by 6 wickets Scorecard |
Sudurpaschim Royals 85 (19.1 overs) |
Ruben Trumpelmann (Lumbini Lions) | |
Performance by team
[edit | edit source]Seasons
[edit | edit source]| Season (No. of teams) |
2024 (8) |
2025 (8) |
|---|---|---|
| Biratnagar Kings | 6th | PO |
| Chitwan Rhinos | PO | 7th |
| Janakpur Bolts | C | 8th |
| Kathmandu Gorkhas | 5th | PO |
| Karnali Yaks | PO | 6th |
| Lumbini Lions | 8th | C |
| Pokhara Avengers | 7th | 5th |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | RU | RU |
- Teams have been listed alphabetically.
- C: Champions
- RU: Runner-up
- PO: Team qualified for the playoff stage of the competition
All time standings
[edit | edit source]| Teams | Appearances | Best result | Statistics | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First | Latest | Played | Won | Lost | NR | Win% | ||
| Janakpur Bolts | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Champions (2024) | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 47.05 |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Runners-up (2024) & 2025 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 77.77 |
| Karnali Yaks | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Qualifier 2 (2024) | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 43.75 |
| Chitwan Rhinos | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Eliminator (2024) | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 40 |
| Biratnagar Kings | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Qualifier 2 (2025) | 16 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 43.75 |
| Kathmandu Gorkhas | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Eliminator (2025) | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 60 |
| Lumbini Lions | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Champions (2025) | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 47.05 |
| Pokhara Avengers | 2 | 2024 | 2025 | Group Stage (2024) | 14 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 28.57 |
Records and statistics
[edit | edit source]A summary of the most notable statistical records associated with the tournament is provided below.[31]
- As of 13 December 2025
| Batting records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Most runs | Rohit Paudel (LL) | 555 |
| Highest score | Mark Watt (KY) | 114* vs Lumbini Lions (22 November 2025) |
| Highest partnership | Dinesh Kharel & Andries Gous (PA) | 176* vs Lumbini Lions (6 December 2024) |
| Most centuries | Andries Gous (PA) Mark Watt (KY) Adam Rossington (PA) |
(1 each) |
| Most runs in Season | Adam Rossington (PA) | 323 (2025) |
| Bowling records | ||
| Most wickets | Scott Kuggeleijn (SR) | 27 |
| Most wickets in a season | Scott Kuggeleijn (SR) Lalit Rajbanshi (JB) Sandeep Lamichhane (BK) Sher Malla (LL) Abinash Bohara (SR) |
17 (2024/2025) |
| Fielding records | ||
| Most dismissals (wicket-keeper) | Binod Bhandari (SPR) | 14 |
| Most catches (fielder) | Anil Sah (JB) | 14 |
| Team records | ||
| Highest total | Biratnagar Kings | 220/6 vs Pokhara Avengers (18 November 2025) |
| Lowest total | Janakpur Bolts | 51/10 vs Sudurpaschim Royals (11 December 2024) |
- Source: Records extracted from ESPNcricinfo.
Media and broadcasting
[edit | edit source]The Nepal Premier League officially announced its television rights partnership with Star Sports and its digital rights partnership with DishHome for the second season.[32]
List of broadcasters (2025 Season)
[edit | edit source]The league was broadcast live on the following channels:[33][34][35][36][37]
| Country | TV | Internet |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Star Sports Kantipur Max |
DishHome Go |
| India | Star Sports | FanCode |
| Bangladesh | None | |
| Bhutan | ||
| Sri Lanka | ||
| Maldives | ||
| Middle East | None | DishHome Go |
| Rest of the World |
See also
[edit | edit source]- Cricket in Nepal
- List of cricket league in Nepal.
- Sports in Nepal – An overview of sports culture in Nepal
- List of professional sports leagues in Nepal
- Madhwapur Premier League
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]| National teams |
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| Province/Departmental teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments |
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| Grounds |
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| Players | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Records | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defunct Competitions |
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