Kathmandu, September 1

The Machhapuchhre Cricket League, a Twenty20 Tournament, is all set to begin at the MCC grounds in Pokhara on September 5.

The organisers said they were done with the preparation works and that were ready for the first-ever franchise-based tournament of the region. A total of six teams — Lions Club of Pokhara Downtown, Machhapuchhre Lions, Informatics College Cheetahs, Parbat Titans, VM Warriors Baglung and KKAF Syangja Challengers — from Dhaulagiri and Gandaki zones are competing in the tournament which is being jointly organised by Machhapuchhre Cricket Club and Khukuri Ent.

Khukuri Ent Managing Director Binayak Bikram Thapa said that the preparations for the tournament were completed. “The main objective of the tournament is to produce local cricketers and provide them with the proper platform to take them to the national level,” Thapa said at a press meet. “We have seen a lot of talented players in the region and they just need a platform where they can showcase their skills and impress the selectors,” added Thapa.

A total of 96 players were picked up for the clubs through auction. Sudeep Poudel was the highest paid player after he was sold to Lions Downtown for Rs 10,000. Raju Gurung is the skipper of Downtown, while former national team member Deepesh Khatri will lead Machhapuchhre Lions. Prabin Dhakal, Raju Thapa, Bijaya BK and Diwakar Thapa are the skippers of Informatics, Parbat Titans, VM Warriors and KKAF Syangja respectively.

The participating six teams will face each other in the league round with top four teams making it to the play-offs. The top two teams will play in the Qualifier1 for the final spot, while the losing team will play against the winners of the Eliminator match between the bottom two sides. The opening match of the tournament will be played between hosts Machhapuchhre Lions and VM Warriors.

The winners and runners-up of the tournament will take home Rs 300,000 and Rs 150,000 respectively, while the best player of the competition will get Rs 20,000. Similarly, the best bowler and batsman will receive Rs 10,000 each, while the man-of-the-match will get Rs 2,000 and the man-of-the-final will be awarded with Rs 5,000.

The hosts informed that the estimated cost for the tournament is Rs 2.5 million. Sponsor sports drink is the main sponsor of the tournament which is supported by National Sports Council, SM, RJ Sports, Quest Travels and Hospitality Solutions and Pokhara Batika Classic Hotel.