Biratnagar take on Chitwan as Janakpur face Karnali on Tuesday

KATHMANDU: Biratnagar Kings take on Chitwan Rhinos in the opening match of Tuesday’s double-header in the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).

The match will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the TU International Cricket Stadium, before Karnali Yaks face Janakpur Bolts in the second match at 5 p.m.

Biratnagar Kings, which finished second in the league stage but lost both qualifiers in the 2025 season, have signed global cricketing superstars for the 2026 season. They have recruited West Indies power-hitter Andre Russell, and Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews and batter Charith Asalanka.

Chitwan Rhinos, which finished second last year with just two wins, have also strengthened their squad. They have signed Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza, Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Usama Mir, and England’s Ravi Bopara. They have also appointed former Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir as head coach.

The participation of Pakistani players, however, is uncertain following the refusal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to provide no-objection certificates (NOCs) to players.

The two sides met each other twice in the NPL. Biratnagar defeated Chitwan by 51 runs in the 2024 season, while Chitwan handed Biratnagar a 48-run defeat in the 2025 season.

Chitwan qualified for the playoffs in the 2024 season, while Biratnagar qualified in the 2025 season, finishing second in the league stage.

Kanali Yaks vs Janakpur Bolts
The evening fixture promises an interesting contest between Karnali Yaks and Janakpur Bolts.

Karnali, who qualified for the playoffs in the inaugural season but finished sixth in 2025, have recruited South African batter David Miller, and Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan and all-rounder Hussain Talat.

Janakpur, the inaugural NPL champions, have also rebuilt their squad after finishing last in the 2025 season. Their new overseas recruits include England all-rounder Moeen Ali, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed. US all-rounder Harmeet Singh will captain the side.

The two teams have met each other thrice in the NPL – twice in the league stage and once in the playoffs. Janakpur lead the head-to-head record against Karnali 2-1, having won both encounters in the inaugural season, including the Qualifier 2. Karnali, however, won their most recent meeting in December 2025.