Kathmandu, December 14

Dhangadhi Cricket Academy and Ghorahi Cement Industry Pvt Ltd signed the sponsorship deal for the Sagarmatha Cement Dhangadhi Premier League Cricket Tournament here today.

DCA President Subash Shahi and Ghorahi Cement Industry Pvt Ltd Director Sanjay Bansal signed the Memorandum of Understanding. As per the agreement, Ghorahi Cement will provide the organisers with Rs 1.5 million as the title sponsor of the event.

“We will keep supporting cricketing events in coming days as well,” said Ghorahi Cement’s Marketing Head Pratik Adhikari. The hosts informed that the estimated budget of the tournament is Rs 16 million.

The tournament — created by merging SPA Cup and Dhangadhi Cricket League — is being organised by DCA and Sudur Paschimanchal Academy at the SSP grounds in Dangadhi from March 18, informed DCA President Shahi.

A total of six teams will compete in the tournament, the biggest in terms of cash purse. The winners will earn Rs 1.5 million, while the runners-up will get Rs 700,000. “Teams from Dhangadhi, Attariya, Rupandehi and Kathmandu have been confirmed and two teams are yet to be finalised,” said Shahi.

“Teams from other cities are also responding positively and we will reveal the names of the clubs along with their owners and skippers on January 5,” he informed.

The organisers will hold an auction for the players on January 7. The registration of players began today with national team skipper

Paras Khadka being the first cricketer to get his name registered. The organisers have set the December 30 to register the players.

The base amount for the national team players is Rs 50,000, while Rs 30,000 is set for U-19 team members and former national team players. The base amount for uncapped players is  Rs 20,000.

Shahi said that teams will be allowed to have three foreign players in the squad with a maximum of two in the starting XI. “We are coordinating with Cricket Players Association Nepal for auction,” Shahi said.

National team skipper Khadka, who is also the General Secretary of CPAN, said such tournaments were necessary to upgrade the level of Nepali cricket. “We need tournaments like this throughout the country,” he said.

“And private sector should take initiatives for such events rather than waiting for government and National Sports Council at a time when the domestic cricket is facing crisis. I am also happy that cricket is being played out of Kathmandu valley,” Khadka added.

Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi, Raaika Tour and Travel Company Managing Director Amar Bahadur Shahi and Olympian Deepak Bista also lauded DCA’s efforts in saving cricket in the country.