Kathmandu, May 11

National Sports Council is organising the first Prime Minister Cup One-day National Men’s Cricket Tournament here at the TU from May 23 to June 7.

The tournament carries the highest cash prize in the history of domestic cricket with the winners and runners-up getting two million rupees and one million rupees respectively, informed NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista at a press meet today.

A total of eight teams — Eastern, Central, Western, Mid-western and Far-western regional sides and departmental teams Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal APF Club — will compete in the 50-over tournament which will be played under league-cum-knock out format.

The participating teams will be divided into two groups with top two teams making it to the semi-finals. The two losing semi-finalists will get Rs 50,000 each, while the teams will receive Rs 25,000 as a bonus for each win in league round.

Likewise, the best player of the tournament will take home Rs 100,000 whereas the best batsman and the best bowler will earn Rs 50,000 apiece. The emerging player will be awarded with Rs 25,000 and the man-of-the-match will get Rs 5,000.

“NSC is organising the competition to contribute in the development of the game,” said Bista. “We are doing this as one-day national tournament has not been held for a long time due to internal conflicts which led to the suspension of Cricket Association of Nepal by the International Cricket Council.”

Bista claimed that the tournament would be a milestone in Nepali cricket since NSC will continue organising the event every year. “We also have plans to make it an international invitational competition in coming days,” he added. Member Secretary Bista said the estimated budget of the tournament was Rs 11 million and the NSC had allocated five million rupees for the event. “We have requested the Ministry of Youth and Sports for Rs 2.5 million and we will manage the remaining amount from sponors,” said Bista.

The main sponsor of the tournament, Ruslan Cricket will provide the organisers with Rs 2.5 million, while Citizens Bank International and eSewa will contribute Rs 300,000 apiece.

The NSC has given the event management responsibility to Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre, run by national cricket team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla.

Meanwhile, national cricket team head coach Jagat Tamatta said the tournament will also serve as the selection event for the ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Hong Kong, which will be played in October. Tamatta said the tournament is one of the best platforms for the cricketers to showcase their talents. “I hope the participating teams will prepare strong squads for the tournament. And we are also hoping to get the best players from the tournament for the WCL matches,” said Tamatta.

Tamatta said the regional teams for the national tournament would be formed through selection events — either regional tournament or through camp — and the organiser would provide Rs 50,000 to all the regional teams as preparation money.

Similarly, national cricket team vice-captain Malla said the tournament was important for the WCL and that the event would encourage cricketers as the prize money was exciting. “We will know players’ potential through 50-over matches which will help us in the WCL,” said Malla adding that “the prize money will also motivate the players towards the game.”