KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 22

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has felicitated the players and the managers of Janakpur Bolts, the title-holders of the first edition of Nepal Premier League (NPL) Cricket Championship.

In a programme organized at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar today, PM Oli congratulated the players of the team who, with their best performance, played a role in lifting up the standard of Nepali cricket, as well as the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)'s office-bearers and managers.

Janakpur Bolts clinched the title defeating Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets in a march held at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground in Kirtipur on Saturday.

The Prime Minister on the occasion expressed his best wishes for securing even bigger success in the coming days, and for maintaining self-confidence, skills and enthusiasm to demonstrate that Nepalis too can become famous batters in the world.

'This is the victory of all the Nepalis. It is a victory for Nepali cricket. Your exceptional capacity has been seen through the championship. The first runner-up team, Sudurpaschim Royals, also performed well. The Janakpur Bolts players deserve congratulations who secured victory in the face of tough challenge. I extend best wishes for even big successes in the coming days,' the PM said.

Stating that his first decision when he assumed the office of the Prime Minister was to upgrade the Kirtipur-based cricket ground, PM Oli said a call for tender has already been made for that purpose. He reiterated that he and the government would continue the efforts for the development of the sports sector in Nepal.

On the occasion, CAN and sports managers complained that the process for bringing foreign players and investment or assistance into the country was cumbersome. In reply, the Prime Minister said there should not be such situation and expressed the government's commitment to facilitate in this connection.

CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand expressed gratitude for the government's keeping cricket in priority and urged the government to end the 'cumbersome process' related to the labour permit for good foreign players.

Janakpur Bolts captain Aasif Shekh said they were pleased to meet with and get felicitations from the Prime Minister.