Kathmandu, September 8

EPL Pvt Ltd today unveiled the team owners and their marquee players for the Everest Premier League slated for December at the Tribhuvan University Stadium.

A total of six teams are competing in the tournament that offers the winning prize of Rs 2.1 million, making it the biggest cricket event in the country in terms of prize money.

Rohit Gupta is the owner of Kathmandu Kings XI, while Sompal Kami is the marquee player. Lalitpur Patriots is owned by Kishore Maharjan, while national team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla is the marquee player. Similarly, Vishal Agrawal is the owner of Biratnagar Warriors with national team skipper Paras Khadka being the marquee player of the team.

Aditya Shanghai, who owned Bhairahawa Gladiators, picked up Sharad Vesawkar as marquee player, while Pokhara Rhinos is owned by Shahil Agrawal, who selected Shakti Gauchan as marquee player. Kishor Bhattarai is the owner of the Chitwan Tigers, while U-19 team skipper Dipendra Singh Airee is marquee player.

According to the organisers the marquee player might not be the skipper of the team. EPL Founder Aamir Akhtar said the base amount of the marquee players was set at Rs 200,000. He also informed that auction for the event would be organise upon the players’ arrival from Hong Kong. The national team is slated to visit Hong Kong to play the two matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship slated for October 13 and 15.

Meanwhile, national team skipper and Biratnagar’s marquee player Khadka said the event would give a taste of international tournament. “The EPL is the platform where young players can get the feel of international matches once they enter the ground,” he added. “The inclusion of foreign players will also promote the tournament and provide the local cricketers with the opportunity to learn from them,” said Khadka.

Vice-skipper of national team and marquee player of Lalitpur, Malla said the event would be beneficial for the sport. He also hoped the event would get even bigger in coming days. Likewise, Gauchan, Kami and Vesawkar also lauded the organisers of the EPL and thanked the team owners for investing huge money in cricket.

National cricket team head coach Jagat Tamatta, who is also the chief coach at the National Sports Council, asked the EPL officials to organise 50-over tournaments. “The EPL is a huge platform for local cricketers and we have done well in Twenty20 format. At the same time, we also need 50-over tournaments as we have a target of playing the World Cup in future,” added Tamatta.

Owners of the franchises were also excited and thanked the organisers for providing them with the opportunity to own teams in the event.