Kathmandu, February 21

Dhangadhi Cricket Academy and Ghorahi Cement Industry Pvt Ltd today inked the sponsorship for the third edition of the Dhangadhi Cricket League.

As per the agreement, Sagarmatha Cement will be the title sponsor of the DCL-3 to be held from March 5-22 in Dhangadhi. The sponsors will provide the organisers with one million rupees for the tournament.

Director of Ghorahi Cement Industry Pvt Ltd Aditya Sanghai and DCA President Subash Shahi signed the memorandum of understanding at a press meet today.

Shahi, a cricket enthusiast who has been organising various tournaments in Dhangadhi for a long time, said he and his team were just enjoying the sport.

“We did not start the tournament with proper planning, we did it in a small scale as we enjoy cricket,” said Shahi, who introduced franchise-based teams and players’ auction from this edition.

“We prepared a proposal and knocked doors of local entrepreneurs in the beginning, but today the sponsors chase us for investment,” he added.

“We have not done anything big in cricket.

Our activities made headlines as there is almost nothing happening in the field of cricket from concerned authorities,” Shahi said. “There is a long way to go and we are in initial stage,” he added. “We have to work towards sustainability of the game as it is not possible to run tournament from donations.”

Five teams Santoshi, Hasanpur, Chauraha, Attariya and Campus Road will compete in the Twenty20 tournament under double league basis.

U-19 team skipper Raju Rijal, captain of Santoshi, was sold for the highest amount of Rs 40,000 in auction, while national team member Binod Bhandari and Lalit Singh Bhandari drew Rs 36,000 each.

Top four teams after the league round will advance to play-off and top two after the second round league will qualify for final.

Out of the total prize purse of Rs 620,000, top two teams will receive Rs 300,000 and Rs 150,000 respectively, while the player-of-the-series will be awarded with Rs 50,000.

Ghorahi Cement’s Director Sanghai said the company got involved in cricket with the aim of producing future champions. “We want to promote Nepali cricket and would like to see the players reach the summit one day,” said Sanghai.

Nepal National and International Players Association President Deepak Bista said he was proud to get the opportunity to join hands with DCA.

“Dhangadhi is known as City of Cricket only because of Shahi,” said Bista, who also hails from Dhangadhi. “Many talents are born in Far-west and hope they will excel in the field of sports,” added taekwond ace Bista, the South Asian Games record holder with four straight gold medals.

National cricket team skipper Paras Khadka argued strong domestic set up was the key to development of the sport. “Tournaments like DCL will strengthen the base,” said Khadka.

“I would like to thank Sagarmatha Cement for the sponsorship and request corporate houses to join hands in such projects.

DCA has lit the light; let’s hope it will grow into a flame one day.”