CAN to organise NPL in March-April next year; principally approves EPL
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 26
The first meeting of the newly-elected Cricket Association of Nepal board today decided to host the Tri-Nations Series T20I Tournament in Kathmandu as a preparation of the national team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Finals.
According to the CAN, Nepal, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates will take part in the double round robin tournament to be held from October 17-26. The tournament will be used as national team's preparation for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Finals, which will also be played in Kathmandu from October 30 to November 6.
Nepal are in Group A along with Singapore, Oman and Malaysia, while the UAE, Hong Kong, Bahrain are in Group B along with the winners of the Asia Qualifier 'A' tournament.
The two finalists will earn berths in the T20 World Cup to be played in the United States of America and the West Indies next year. Nepal had made it to the maiden T2o World Cup in 2014 under skipper Paras Khadka, who was elected as the secretary of CAN last week.
The CAN meeting decided to begin the necessary preparation works to organise the Nepal Premier League in March-April next year.
The inaugural Nepal T20 was embroiled in controversies after the strategic and commercial partner Seven3Sports fled midway through the tournament without paying the salaries of the players. The event further came under scrutiny after reports of spot-fixing surfaced through media and Nepal Police took over the matter. Nepal Police charged a number of officials and players under spot-fixing and corruption, the matter is sub judice in district court. The CAN, however, has already decided to terminate the contract with Seven3Sports.
The meeting agreed to allow other franchise-based leagues to organise the tournament as Domestic League. "Regarding the Everest Premier League's proposal to allow foreign players in its tournament, the CAN meeting principally agreed to approve EPL's submission and give them the permission to organise the event after the completion of the NPL," CAN said in a release undersigned by secretary Khadka.
The meeting decided to change the format of the Prime Minister Cup National Cricket Tournament with 10 teams - one each from seven provinces and three departmental sides - competing under round robin format in the league stage. The semi-finals will be played under two-day league, while the final will be played under three-day format.
Earlier, it was a one-day leaguecum-knockout format with teams divided into two groups.
The CAN also formed a five-member execution committee under its president Chatur Bahadur Chand.
Vice-president Roshan Kumar Singh, secretary Khadka, treasurer Padam Khadka and member Diwakar Ghale are the members of the committee.
The meeting formed a three-member committee to investigate the controversy in Jhapa District Cricket Association. Koshi Province Cricket Association president Sarbajit Pandey will lead the committee, while Tikaram Puri and Narad Nepal are the members.
Other decisions included the nominations of officials in central committee, construction of one each pitch in seven provinces and distribution of technical manpower and kits; conducting training for 10 curators; appointment of provincial development officer in all provinces from among former cricketers or cricket-related persons; and organising annual national cricket award.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
