Kathmandu, July 30

EPL Pvt Ltd is organising the second edition of the Everest Premier League here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium in December.

The winners of the league will get Rs 2.1 million, making it the biggest tournament in domestic circuit, informed EPL Founder Aamir Akhtar at a press meet today. The National Sports Council had awarded two million rupees to the winners of the first Prime Minister Cup One-day National Men’s Cricket Tournament that concluded on June 8 at the TU Stadium.

Akhtar said the prizes for the runners-up and other individual awards winners would be announced later. A total of six city-based franchise teams — Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Birgunj and Pokhara — will compete tournament which will be played under the round robin format. Top four teams will make it to the playoffs.

“We are yet to confirm the owners of the franchises as number of corporate houses have shown interest to be associated with the event. We have proposed for a 10-year contract for the event,” said Akhtar, the former Nepal national team member.

“Each team will have a 15-player squad for the tournament with 10 cricketers coming through auction. Each team will have a marquee players with a maximum of three foreign players, while the teams should organise a talent hunt programme at their respective cities and pick up one local player in the squad,” said Akhtar.

He informed that the local players would be divided into three categories for the auction and that the organisers would facilitate the teams for foreign players. “We are in talks with agents from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia and England and we can prepare a pool of players for the teams,” Akhtar added. If the teams sign foreign players, the EPL would be the first ever event in Nepal to feature international cricketers. Akhtar also said that his team would involve managers and vendors of Indian Premier League to run the event smoothly.

Meanwhile, Nepali national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka, head coach Jagat Tamatta and EPL Founder Akhtar unveiled the EPL logo. Skipper Khadka said the players were excited about event. “The event was the biggest of its kind last year that provided a perfect platform for the local cricketers. EPL set the bench mark in Nepali cricket and we are hoping for even bigger tournament this time around,” said Khadka, who is also the General Secretary of Cricket Players Association of Nepal.

Khadka also lauded corporate sectors’ involvement in EPL. “The corporate sector has been investing generously in cricket and we need such kind of involvement of business houses to grow,” said Khadka. Asked about the role of CPAN in EPL, Khadka said the association would coordinate with the organisers to ensure good facilities for the cricketers. “EPL and Dhangadhi Premier League are the two tournaments we have at the moment. As the CPAN has been working for the benefit of the players, we will negotiate with the organisers regarding their salaries, insurance and other benefits,” Khadka added. “Hopefully we will have Cricket Association of Nepal or an authority to regulate Nepali cricket by December,” he added.

Coach Tamatta, who is also the head coach at the National Sports Council, said the event like EPL was good for Nepali cricket. “This is a big event and I would like to thank EPL organisers and Aamir Akhtar for organising the tournament. The event will provide platform to the young players which will ultimately help in the development of Nepali cricket,” said Tamatta, adding that the NSC was ready to support the event in every possible way. “At the moment, the NSC has given the green signal for the event and the sport's governing body would help the EPL if needed,” added Tamatta.