KATHMANDU, JANUARY 31

The Seven3Sports has unilaterally terminated the NepalT20 Cricket League contract with Cricket Association of Nepal.

The controversial NepalT20 was held at the TU Stadium from December 24 to January 11 and CAN had roped in the Indian company as Strategic and Commercial partner of the tournament. But the NepalT20, which was postponed thrice due to poor management from the CAN and Seven3Sports, failed to make the desired start and came under scrutiny.

While the CAN failed to get work permit for foreign players in the absence of approval from the National Sports Council, the franchise teams did not pay players' salaries. The Home Ministry directed the Nepal Police to investigate the tournament after reports of spot fixing surfaced, while the NSC also formed a committee to probe irregularities in the event.

The CIB concluded spot fixing happened in the tournament and has already arrested two cricketers - all-rounder Aadil Ansari and former Nepal international Mehboob Alam - and the Nepal Police is preparing to book 10 individuals.

The NSC-formed committee also found irregularities and has recommended that the sports governing body should take stern action against the CAN, including the suspension of the executive committee for one to three months.

Founder of Seven3Sports Jatin Ahluwalia, fled to India with CEO Abhishek Saklani on January 2 after reports of spot fixing surfaced, confirmed the termination of the contract with CAN. "We have decided to terminate the contract as CAN failed to obtain approval from the NSC," Ahluwalia told THT.

Asked about the CIB investigation and his involvement in spot fixing, Ahluwalia said he was ready to support "competent inquiry." CAN Acting Secretary Prashant Bikram Malla, who is also the president of the Governing Council of the NepalT20, confirmed the association had received an email from Seven3Sports but didn't divulge its details.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 1, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.