Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicks off with a day-night fixture between defending champions Janakpur Bolts and the revamped Kathmandu Gorkhas at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Monday.
The highly anticipated opener, scheduled for 4:00 pm under floodlights, pits skipper Anil Sah’s side, boasting international firepower like Wayne Parnell and Lahiru Milantha, against the new-look Gorkhas coached by former Nepali national team Head Coach Monty Desai.
Janakpur Botls, who lost their talisman Head Coach Pubudu Dassanayake, have brought West Indies legend Shivnarine Chandrapaul in the dugout.
The Bolts had defeated the capital-based side by five wickets with 25 balls remaining in the first season of the NPL.
The NPL features eight city-based franchises – Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts, Kathmandu Gorkhas, Pokhara Avengers, Chitwan Rhinos, Lumbini Lions, Karnali Yaks and Sudurpashchim Royals. A total of 32 matches – 28 in the league stage, three in the play-offs, and the final – will be played over the next month. Twenty-three of these matches will be played under floodlights.
Janakpur Bolts Squad:
Anil Sah (Captain), Aasif Sheikh, Lahiru Milantha, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Sangeeth Cooray, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Rupesh Singh, Tul Thapa, Shubh Kansakar, Mayan Yadav, Pappu Yadav, Sachin Bhatta, Bikash Aagri, Aaditya Mahata, Lahiru Samarakoon,
Kathmandu Gorkhas Squad:
Karan KC (Captain), John Simpson, Rashid Khan, Heinrich Klaasen, Gerhard Erasmus, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Ben Charlesworth, Sunny Patel, Milind Kumar, Shahab Alam, Dipesh Kandel, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Sonu Devkota, Bhim Sharki, Uttam Magar, Pratik Shrestha, Aakash Tripathi, Krish Karki, Santosh Yadav, Tul Bahadur Thapa
