The Nepal Premier League (NPL) is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league in Nepal, established to boost the sport’s popularity and bring a higher level of competition to Nepali cricket. Modeled after successful leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), the NPL brings together domestic players and international stars, creating an exciting and competitive environment for cricket fans in Nepal.
The league has rapidly gained attention since its inception, providing an excellent platform for young Nepali cricketers to showcase their skills, while also offering opportunities for international players to compete in one of South Asia’s growing cricketing nations. NPL serves not only as a medium for entertainment but also as a crucial step in elevating the standard of cricket in Nepal.
NPL’s format is based on a franchise model, with teams representing different regions of Nepal. The league is designed to feature a round-robin group stage, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs, ultimately culminating in a final to determine the champion.
NPL Teams and Players
The NPL 2023 features 8 exciting franchises, each with a mix of domestic and international players, all competing for the prestigious title. Here is a breakdown of the teams and their players:
1. Kathmandu Gurkhas
Team Overview: The Kathmandu Gurkhas are one of the most popular teams in the NPL, representing the capital city of Nepal. Known for their strong fan base and competitive play, the Gurkhas are always a team to watch.
Player List:
- Karan KC (20L) (MQ)
- Shahab Alam (15L)
- Bhim Sharki (15L)
- Rashid Khan (10L)
- Shankar Rana (9.5L)
- Dipesh Prasad Kandel (5L)
- Sumit Maharjan (5L)
- Krishna Karki (5L)
- Bibek KC (2L)
- Michael Levit ✈️ (Netherlands)
- Virandeep Singh ✈️ (Malaysia)
- Gerhard Erasmus ✈️ (Namibia)
- Stevie Sean Eskinazi ✈️ (South Africa)
- Dan Douthwaite ✈️ (England)
2. Chitwan Rhinos
Team Overview: Representing Chitwan, home of the famous Chitwan National Park, the Rhinos have a reputation for bringing intense energy to their games. They boast a balanced squad of both experienced and promising players.
Player List:
- Kushal Malla (20L) (MQ)
- Rijan Dhakal (10L)
- Kamal Singh Airee (10L)
- Sharad Vesawkar (10L)
- Bipin Rawal (8L)
- Santosh Karki (5L)
- Dipesh Shrestha (5L)
- Deepak Bohara (5L)
- Ranjeet Kumar (3L)
- Marchant de Lange ✈️ (South Africa)
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton ✈️ (Namibia)
- Luc Benkenstein ✈️ (England)
- Hassan Eisakhil ✈️ (Afghanistan)
3. Biratnagar Kings
Team Overview: The Biratnagar Kings are based in Biratnagar, a major industrial city in the eastern region of Nepal. The Kings are known for their strong team performances and the presence of star players like Sandeep Lamichhane.
Player List:
- Sandeep Lamichhane (20L) (MQ)
- Lokesh Bam (15L)
- Pratish GC (15L)
- Bashir Ahmad (10L)
- Rajesh Pulami Magar (5L)
- Jitendra Kumar Mukhiya (5L)
- Dipak Bohara (5L)
- Aqib Ilyas ✈️ (Oman)
- Chris Sole ✈️ (Scotland)
- Martin Guptill ✈️ (New Zealand)
- Nicholas Kirton ✈️ (Canada)
- Ismat Alam ✈️ (Afghanistan)
4. Janakpur Bolts
Team Overview: Janakpur Bolts, representing the cultural and religious heartland of Nepal, are known for their exciting mix of local talent and international players.
Player List:
- Aasif Sheikh (20L) (MQ)
- Lalit Rajbanshi (15L)
- Anil Kumar Shah (15L)
- Rupesh K Singh (10L)
- Kishor Mahato (10L)
- Aakash Tripathi (10L)
- Shubh Kansakar (5L)
- Sher Malla (5L)
- Hemant Dhami (5L)
- James Neesham ✈️ (New Zealand)
- Joshua Tromp ✈️ (USA)
- Sohaib Maqsood ✈️ (Pakistan)
- Muhammad Mohsin ✈️ (Cyprus)
5. Lumbini Lions
Team Overview: Lumbini Lions represent the western region of Nepal and are named after the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Lions have a mix of solid Nepali players and experienced internationals.
Player List:
- Rohit Kumar Paudel (20L) (MQ)
- Surya Tamang (15L)
- Bibek Yadav (15L)
- Sandeep Jora (15L)
- Ashutosh Ghiraiya (10L)
- Tilak Raj Bhandari (10L)
- Durgesh Gupta (8L)
- Arjun Saud (5L)
- Dinesh Adhikari (2.75L)
- Tom Moores ✈️ (England)
- Mohammad Saifuddin ✈️ (Bangladesh)
- Ben Cutting ✈️ (Australia)
- Unmukt Chand ✈️ (USA)
6. Pokhara Avengers
Team Overview: The Pokhara Avengers are based in the picturesque city of Pokhara, known for its lakes and mountains. They feature an exciting squad, combining youth with experience.
Player List:
- Kushal Bhurtel (20L) (MQ)
- Sagar Dhakal (15L)
- Aakash Chand (11.5L)
- Dilip Nath (10L)
- Kiran Thaguna (10L)
- Narayan Joshi (10L)
- Bipin Khatri (10L)
- Suman Gautam (5L)
- Andries Gous ✈️ (USA)
- Bas de Leede ✈️ (Netherlands)
- Anderson Phillip ✈️ (West Indies)
- Raymon Reifer ✈️ (West Indies)
- Michael Leask ✈️ (Scotland)
7. Karnali Yaks
Team Overview: Karnali Yaks represent the Karnali region, known for its natural beauty and rugged terrain. The Yaks feature a talented squad that has become one of the more formidable teams in the NPL.
Player List:
- Sompal Kami (20L) (MQ)
- Gulshan Jha (15L)
- Nandan Yadav (11L)
- Dev Khanal (10L)
- Mausam Dhakal (10L)
- Arjun Gharti (10L)
- Rit Gautam (5L)
- Bhuban Karki (5L)
- Dipendra Rawat (3L)
- Hussain Talat ✈️ (Pakistan)
- Chadwick Walton ✈️ (West Indies)
- Babar Hayat ✈️ (Hong Kong)
- Shikhar Dhawan ✈️ (India)
- Zeeshan Maqsood ✈️ (Oman)
8. Sudurpaschim Royals
Team Overview: The Sudurpaschim Royals represent the far western region of Nepal and have built a team that blends Nepali talent with international flair, aiming to take the title.
Player List:
- Dipendra Singh Airee (20L) (MQ)
- Aarif Sheikh (15L)
- Abinash Bohara (12L)
- Binod Bhandari (10L)
- Ishan Pandey (9.5L)
- Arjun Kumal (7.5L)
- Khadak Bahadur Bohara (5L)
- Naresh Budhayer (5L)
- Bhojraj Bhatta (4.5L)
- Brandon McMullen ✈️ (Scotland)
- Saif Ali Zaid ✈️ (England)
- Scott Kuggeleijn ✈️ (New Zealand)
- Rohan Mustafa ✈️ (UAE)
Conclusion
The Nepal Premier League (NPL) has become a key part of the Nepali cricket scene, providing a platform for both local talent and international stars to shine. With its diverse team rosters and exciting brand of cricket, the NPL is not just about entertainment, but also plays a vital role in the development of cricket in Nepal.
Whether you’re a fan of local cricketers like Sandeep Lamichhane and Kushal Malla, or international stars like Rashid Khan and Shikhar Dhawan, the NPL offers an electrifying mix of talent. As the league continues to grow, it is poised to become an increasingly important fixture on the global cricketing calendar.
