Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicks off at the TU International Cricket Grounds on Saturday.
Eight city-based franchises will play each other over the next 20 days in the T20 format. The league has generated significant buzz, primarily due to the participation of Nepali and international cricket stars. At least 40 foreign players from 16 countries are set to grace the tournament, adding a global flavor to the event. Headlining the international contingent are players like the Indian cricket sensation Shikhar Dhawan and New Zealander Martin Guptil who will showcase their skills on the Kirtipur pitch.
All participating teams – Biratanagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts, Kathmandu Gurkhas, Chitwan Rhinos, Pokhara Avengers, Lumbini Lions, Karnali Yaks and Sudurpaschim Royals – feature a mix of local and international talents. Each team can field a maximum of four players in the playing 11.
Biratnagar Kings takes on Janakpur Bolts in the opening match of the league on Saturday.
Here we present you information about the eight sides participating in the inaugural NPL:
BIRATNAGAR KINGS
Captain: Sandeep Lamichhane, Coach: Kevin O’Brien (Ireland) Owner: MD Dreams Sports
Squad: Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Pratish GC, Basir Ahamad, Rajesh Pulami Magar, Jitendra Mukhiya, Anil Kharel, Deepak Bohara, Subhash Bhandari, Naren Bhatt, Mrinal Gurung, Aqib Ilyas (Oman), Martin Guptill (New Zealand) Nicholas Kirton (Canada), Chris Sole (Scotland), Ismat Alam (Afghanistan)
JANAKPUR BOLTS
Captain: Anil Sah, Coach: Pubudu Dissanayake (Canada), Owner: Dream Sports Pvt. Ltd.
Squad: Asif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Rupesh Kumar Singh, Kishor Mahato, Aakash Tripathi, Shubh Kansakar, Sher Malla, Hemant Dhami, Arniko Yadav, Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar, James Neesham (New Zealand), Joshua Tromp (USA), Ben Mike (England), Mohammad Mohsin (Pakistan), Lahiru Milantha (USA), Harsh Thaker (Canada)
KATHMANDU GURKHAS
Captain: Karan KC, Coach: Basanta Shahi, Owner: Kathmandu Sports Development Venture
Squad: Karan KC, Shahab Alam, Bhim Sharki, Rashid Khan, Shankar Rana, Dipesh Kandel, Sumit Maharjan, Krish Karki, Bibek KC, Pratik Shrestha, Raju Rijal, Krishna Karki, Nathan Sowter (England), Stephen Eskinazi (England), Dan Douthwaite (England), Michael Levitt (Netherlands), Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia)
CHITWAN RHINOS
Captain: Kushal Malla, Coach: Umesh Patwal, Owner: Chitwan Medical College
Squad: Kushal Malla, Rijan Dhakal, Sharad Vesawkar, Bipin Rawal, Santosh Karki, Dipesh Shrestha, Amar Singh Rautela, Deepak Bohara, Ranjeet Kumar, Gautam KC, Salahuddin Khan, Ravi Bopara (England), Hassan Eisakhail (Afghanistan), Jann Nicol Loftie Eaton (Namibia), Luc Benckenstein (England), Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan)
POKHARA AVENGERS
Captain: Kushal Bhurtel, Coach: Rajeev Kumar (India), Owner: Nepal T-20 Pvt Ltd
Squad: Kushal Bhurtel, Sagar Dhakal, Akash Chand, Kiran Thagunna, Narayan Joshi, Bipin Khatri, Dilip Nath, Trit Raj Das, Sunam Gautam, Dinesh Kharel, Amrit Gurung, Sudip Aryal, Andries Gous (USA), Bas de Leede (Netherlands), Matthew Critchley (England), Raymon Reifer (West Indies), Michael Leask (Scotland), Zen Malik (England)
LUMBINI LIONS
Captain: Rohit Paudel, Coach: Nandan Fatnani (India), Ownership: Fortuna Healthcare
Squad: Rohit Paudel, Surya Tamang, Bivek Yadav, Sandeep Jora, Ashutosh Ghiraiya, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Durgesh Gupta, Arjun Saud, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam, Bikash Aagri, Arif Shah, Ben Cutting (Australia), Unmukt Chand (USA), Tom Moores (England), Ramon Simmonds (West Indies), Saad Bin Zafar (Canada)
KARNALI YAKS
Captain: Sompal Kami, Coach: Gyanendra Malla, Owner: Himalayan Builders & Engineers
Squad: Sompal Kami, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Nandan Yadav, Mausam Dhakal, Arjun Gharti, Dev Khanal, Rit Gautam, Bhuwan Karki, Dipendra Rawat, Dipak Dumre, Unish Bikram Singh Thakuri, Bipin Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan (India), Babar Hayat (Hong Kong), Chadwick Walton (West Indies), Zeeshan Maqsood (Oman)
SUDURPASHCHIM ROYALS
Captain: Deependra Singh Airee, Coach: Jagat Tamata, Owner: Empire Sports
Squad: Deependra Singh Airee, Arif Sheikh, Abhinash Bohra, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Arjun Kumal, Khadka Bahadur Bohora, Naresh Budhayer, Bhojaraj Bhatt, Amit Shrestha, Naren Saud, Basanta Khatri, Brendon McMullen (Scotland), Saif Zaib (England), Scott Kuggeleijn (New Zealand), Rohan Mustafa (UAE)
