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The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 began with an exciting showdown as Janakpur Bolts dominated Biratnagar Kings, claiming an eight-wicket victory at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Saturday. Janakpur’s disciplined bowling and stellar batting performance marked a strong start to the season.  

After being put to bat by Janakpur, Biratnagar Kings were bundled out for 127 runs in 19 overs. Martin Guptill was the lone warrior for Biratnagar, scoring 55 runs off 43 balls, including seven fours and one six. However, he lacked substantial support from his teammates as Janakpur’s bowlers dominated.

Lalit Rajbanshi was the pick of the bowlers for Janakpur, delivering a remarkable spell of 3/28 in his four overs. Harsh Thaker also made a significant impact with figures of 3/22, while Kishore Mahato and Mohammad Mohsin picked up two and one wickets respectively. Biratnagar’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with no other batsman managing to cross 15 runs apart from Guptill.  

Chasing 128 for victory, Janakpur faced a brief scare, losing openers Aasif Sheikh (0) and Anil Sah (5) early in the innings. However, Lahiru Milantha anchored the innings with a stunning unbeaten 75 off 53 balls, decorated with nine fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Thaker, who scored a steady 29 not out off 33 deliveries.  

The duo’s partnership ensured Janakpur reached the target comfortably in just 15.3 overs, with 27 balls remaining. 

Milantha’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match award, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season for Janakpur Bolts.

Guptill has stated that batting at the TU Ground is not easy. He explained, “It was difficult to take wickets. It wasn’t easy to bat at first.” Guptill expressed confidence that Biratnagar will improve its performance in the upcoming match. “We didn’t do well in the first match, but we’ll come back stronger in the second match,” he said.

He also mentioned that he had ‘enjoyed’ playing cricket in Nepal. “The people of Nepal are very welcoming. I’m very happy to play in front of thousands of spectators in the first match here. I’ve learned that Nepalis love cricket,” he added. “I didn’t know much about Nepali cricket before, but I’ve learned a lot after today’s match.”

Janakpur is eyeing its second consecutive win as they prepare for their next match on Monday. The NPL action continues with exciting fixtures on the same day, including Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Chitwan Rhinos at 9:15 am, followed by Janakpur Bolts vs Karnali Yaks at 1:15 pm. All the matches throughout the league are set to take place at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

The league will culminate with the playoffs, starting with the Eliminator on Dec 18, followed by Qualifiers on Dec 18 and 19. The grand finale is scheduled for Dec 21.  

Besides the match summary, there was a lot to discuss about the event’s organization. The management team needs to step up their performance, as there were significant issues with crowd control and coordination. Many accredited journalists were unable to enter the venue because their press cards had not been printed by the organizing side. Additionally, spectators who had purchased tickets faced difficulties in accessing the gates. Some, despite having valid tickets, were forced to turn back without being able to watch the game.

Frustrated spectators in line expressed their anger, saying they endured significant hardship after purchasing tickets.

The CAN had sold 10,000 tickets for Saturday’s game online, with tickets available three days in advance. However, despite purchasing tickets online, spectators were still required to stand in long queues to exchange them for physical tickets, adding to the inconvenience.

There were repeated clashes between the police and spectators outside the stadium. As spectators with tickets rushed to enter, some were injured when they were crushed by the crowd. Attempts to force entry through the gates led to further conflict, with the police intervening to control the situation. Unfortunately, several spectators were injured, and five spectators along with two policemen were reported to have sustained injuries during the chaos.

Janakpur Bolts secured an easy victory over Biratnagar Kings in the Nepal Premier League's inaugural match on Saturday at Kirtipur, Kathmandu.

Chasing a target of 128 runs, Janakpur reached 131 in just 15.3 overs with only two wickets down.

A remarkable partnership of 116 runs in 87 balls between Lahiru Milantha and Harsh Thaker was key to Janakpur's win, achieved with 27 balls to spare.

Lahiru Milantha scored a brilliant half-century, amassing 75 runs off 53 balls, while Harsh Thaker contributed 29 runs. 

Anil Sah managed 5 runs, and Aasif Sheikh failed to score.

Biratnagar's bowlers Chris Sole and Pratis GC claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Biratnagar Kings, batting first, were bowled out for 127 runs in 19 overs.

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicks off today with a match between Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament features eight franchise teams.

On Dec 2, Kathmandu Gurkhas will face Chitwan Rhinos, followed by Karnali Yaks taking on the Bolts later that day.

On Dec 3, Sudurpaschim Royals will play against the Kings, and Pokhara Avengers will compete against the Rhinos.

Lumbini Lions will begin their campaign on Dec 4 with a match against the Kings.

The top four teams from the round-robin league will advance to the playoffs. The top two teams will compete in Qualifier 1, with the winner earning a direct spot in the final.

The third and fourth-ranked teams will play in the Eliminator, with both Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator scheduled for Dec 18.

The loser of Qualifier 1 will have another opportunity to reach the final by facing the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on Dec 19.

The winner of Qualifier 2 will secure the remaining spot in the championship match, set for December 21.

As we gear up for the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the excitement is growing by the day. And why not? This time, the stage is bigger than ever, featuring over 30 foreign players, many of whom have international experience.

The epicenter of this cricketing spectacle is the TU Cricket Ground, nestled in the heart of the Kathmandu Valley. Surrounded by majestic hills and mountains, this charming stadium has recently undergone a stunning makeover, leaving cricket fans eager to fill the seats. For those who miss out on the stands, the lush green grass will undoubtedly provide a cozy spot to enjoy the matches in this pleasant winter weather.

As eight teams battle it out for the coveted silverware, we can’t help but reflect on how franchise cricket began worldwide. Franchise cricket has offered hope to those who dream of pursuing the sport seriously. In the past, cricket was largely confined to matches between the eight Test-playing nations. Associate nations had limited opportunities, appearing only sporadically in tournaments like the World Cup, Champions Trophy, or Asia Cup. Until recently, T20 cricket was played almost exclusively in England, and the World Cup occurred only once every four years.

I will be discussing the birth of the T20 format in another article. This one, however, is about the birth of T20 franchise cricket. Many might assume that the Indian Premier League (IPL) was the pioneer of the franchise T20 league format. However, the credit for starting the first-ever T20 franchise cricket league goes to the ICL (Indian Cricket League). Sounds familiar, right? The ICL was formed before the IPL came onto the scene.

Kapil Dev, hailed as a hero and the only Indian captain to win the Cricket World Cup at the time, served as the chairman of the ICL. The league was born out of discontent over TV rights with the BCCI. Despite Zee Group offering the highest bid for broadcasting Indian cricket matches, the deal was rejected by the board. In response, Zee Group decided to form its own league—just as Kerry Packer had done in the 1970s.

Though the ICL didn’t send shockwaves across the cricketing world, it certainly caused a stir within the BCCI and ICC. The format itself was revolutionary, introducing city-based franchise teams—a concept that was unheard of at the time. This trend, which began with the ICL, laid the foundation for what the world now embraces: franchise-based leagues. From the IPL to the Big Bash, PSL, and Caribbean Premier League, every major T20 cricket tournament today owes its existence to the franchise cricket model first popularized by the ICL and later perfected by the IPL.

It’s no surprise that the BCCI would never have welcomed, let alone allowed, the ICL to operate in their own backyard. They swiftly took action, announcing a lifetime ban on Kapil Dev and barring all cricketers who participated in the rebel league. Players like Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny, who joined the ICL, were also banned. Moreover, the BCCI prohibited all stadiums under their control from being used for ICL matches.

Despite these obstacles, the tournament began and ran for merely two and a half years. It gained popularity during its first season, but everything changed when Lalit Modi announced a similar tournament—the IPL—which mimicked the ICL’s format. This marked the beginning of the ICL’s downfall. With declining viewership and growing competition from the IPL, the ICL and its rebel cricketing dream faded away after just a couple of years.

However, we must not overlook the significant impact the ICL had in shaping the franchise league concept into a global phenomenon. Without the birth of the ICL, one might wonder if the IPL would even exist today. The IPL’s inception was, in many ways, a direct counter-punch to the ICL. While the IPL is now a multi-billion-dollar sporting event, a small portion of the credit surely belongs to the ICL for being the first to introduce this revolutionary concept.