Kathmandu, September 30

Chitwan Rhinos bought three players for the cap amount of Rs 250,000 as seven cricketers earned the highest bids in the Pokhara Premier League auction here today.

Karan KC and Anil Kumar Sah went to the Rhinos on lottery after more than one bids, while the team bought Md Arif Sheikh for the maximum amount. Rhinos, with national team skipper Paras Khadka as the marquee player, also bought Shakti Prasad Gauchan for the base amount of Rs 210,000 in the second attempt after the veteran cricketer went unsold in the first round.

The Rhinos spent a total of Rs 1.49 million — Rs 190,000 more than the team ceiling of Rs 1.3 million — to buy 10 players in the auction. Bhuban Karki also went to the Rhinos for Rs 150,000, while Hari Shankar Sah earned Rs 90,000. Rhinos bought Ram Naresh Giri and Sonu Tamang for Rs 85,000 each, while they spent Rs 70,000 for Binod Lama and Rs 50,000 for Sumit Maharjan.

Biratnagar Titans were the team who spent exact Rs 1.3 million and they bought 12 players. Pradeep Airee was the most expensive player who cost Titans Rs 240,000, while Sunil Dhamala was sold for Rs 220,000. Shahab Alam and Rajesh Pulami went to the Titans for Rs 150,000 each. Sandeep Lamichhane is the marquee player of the Titans.

Likewise, Butwal Blasters snapped up Sagar Pun in lottery for the maximum amount of Rs 250,000, while they bought Lalit Bhandari for Rs 200,000. The Balsters, who have picked up Sompal Kami as marquee player, also got Siddhant Lohani for Rs 160,000 and won Hari Bahadur Chauhan, Bhim Sarmi and Abhinash Bohara in lottery.

Dhangadhi Blues were the only team to buy maximum 13 players in the auction and they also saved Rs 100,000. Dilip Nath was the most expensive player for the Blues, who spent Rs 240,000 for the player from capped senior category. Nath had set his base amount at Rs 75,000.

The Blues, who have Dipendra Singh Airee as marquee player, snapped up Kamal Singh Airee in lottery for Rs 150,000, while Manjeet Shrestha went to the team for the base amount of Rs 50,000.  The Blues also acquired the services of Yogendra Singh Karki, Sandeep Sunar, Sagar Dhakal, and Saurabh Khanal among others.

Similarly, Kathmandu Royals bought 10 players for Rs 1.28 million, with Basant Regmi being the highest earner at Rs 250,000. The Royal, with national team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla being the marquee player, spent Rs 230,000 for Naresh Budhayer and gave away Rs 150,000 each to three cricketers — Pawan Sarraf, Sushan Bhari and Amit Shrestha. Prithu Baskota earned the bid of Rs 120,000 from the Royals, who also acquired Amar Singh Routela for Rs 100,000.

Pokhara Paltan, who have Sharad Vesawkar as the marquee player, spent Rs 1.29 million for 11 cricketers. They acquired Binod Bhandari and Rohit Kumar Paudel for the maximum bids of Rs 250,000 in lotteries, while the Paltan bought veteran allrounder Mehboob Alam for Rs 160,000. Kushal Bhurtel earned Rs 150,000, while the Paltan bought Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Krishna Karki for Rs 100,000 each.

A total of 178 players had registered for auction. The players were divided into three categories — capped

senior, capped age level and uncapped. The tournament, which is being organised by Queens Event Management Nepal, is slated for October 26 to November 6 at the Pokhara Stadium.