Kathmandu, March 27

Dhanusha District Cricket Association is organising the third Deepak Gupta Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament at the Barhbigha grounds in Janakpur from April 20-28.

A total of eight teams — Janakpur, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Nepal APF Club, Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club along with two teams from India — Phoenix Cricket Club (Assam) and Sonnet Cricket Club (UP) — will compete in the tournament, informed DCA President Hira Bhagat at a press meet. Bhagat announced national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka as the brand ambassador of the tournament.

Tournament coordinator Saroj Kumar Mishra said the matches would be played on artificial turf. Top two teams will receive Rs 311,000 and Rs 171,000 respectively, while the best player of the tournament and man-of-the-match will get Mithila paintings along with cash. The estimated budget of the tournament is five million rupees.

Mishra said the event was being organised with the aim of producing players. “Our target is to produce players through the tournament and help them knock the national team doors. We are also planning to organise 50-over tournament and women’s cricket events in coming days,” said Mishra.