KATHMANDU: Barun Beverage Nepal Pvt Ltd, the makers of soft drink Pepsi, and Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Ltd will sponsor the senior national cricket league, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) said in a press release today.

Previously, Springwood of Surya Nepal and Standard Chartered were the main sponsors of the tournament. CAN said they have been initiating to find the sponsors for the first U-16 boys’ and girls’ national tournaments.

The CAN meeting decided to organise the U-16 national tournament in coordination with the Youth and Sports Ministry. The CAN will give continuity to senior Twenty20, U-19 and women’s tournaments.

The CAN are also hosting two international events in 2010 — Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division-V from February 20-27 and ACC U-16 Elite Cup from March 8-18.

Meanwhile, the CAN meeting approved the budget for the current fiscal year. It has allocated Rs 19 million to organise national events, buying kits and administrative expenses.

For the participation and hosting of the international tournaments, the CAN have allocated Rs 16 million and for the infrastructure development, they have allocated a budget of Rs 32 million. The CAN have proposed a budget of Rs 15 million to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) while they have sought Rs 4.5 million from the government to host the WCL Division-V event. Also, a budget of Rs 3.3 million has been proposed to the National Sports Counil for the preparation of the 11th SA Games.