Kathmandu: The third edition of the Koshi Pride League (KPL) is set to take place from Falgun 9 to 21 in Sunsari. Organized by Koshi Pride Pvt. Ltd., the tournament has received official approval from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), while the Koshi Province Cricket Association will provide technical support.
KPL Director Afzal Hussain announced that the participating teams for this edition include Namuna Blasters, Itahari Adarsha Giants, Birtamod Hits, Purveli Super Kings, Everest Thunders, BN Koshi Arnas, and Gorkha Avengers. The promoters of each participating team were also officially announced.
Namuna Blasters are promoted by Dharma Nyaupane; Itahari Adarsha Giants by Kalpit Dhakal; Birtamod Hits by Anurag Pramanik, with Jeevan Kumar Yadav as representative; Purveli Super Kings by Sanjok Rana, Mahendra Mainali, Santosh Timilsina, Rabin Bista, and Sandesh Sigdel. Similarly, Everest Thunders are promoted by Aakash Khadka; BN Koshi Arnas by Mohammad Seraj Ansari; and Gorkha Avengers by Vijay Khadka, Pujan Babu Bhattarai, Kiran Khadka, Amardeep Sapkota, and Raghunath Sapkota.
Each team will be required to register 18 players, including one marquee player, one iconic player, three draft players (from the national team pool), three Category ‘A’ players, two Category ‘B’ players, and one Category ‘C’ player. Director Afzal Hussain expressed confidence that the organization of KPL would further strengthen cricket development in Koshi Province and make grassroots programs more effective.
The organizers have stated that the auction date will be announced soon, and the open player registration process for the auction has already begun. For the auction, the price range has been set at NPR 45,000 to 65,000 for Category ‘A’, NPR 25,000 to 45,000 for Category ‘B’, and NPR 5,000 to 25,000 for Category ‘C’ players.
Speaking at a press conference held on Sunday, CAN Secretary Paras Khadka emphasized that such tournaments are essential to professionalize domestic cricket. Coordinator Govinda Poudel stated that the KPL is not just a competition but also a platform for identifying young talent, contributing significantly to the development of Nepali cricket. Sunsari District Cricket Association President and Technical Head Chet Nath Poudel noted that Koshi has continued organizing tournaments even during CAN’s suspension period, adding that the league helps enhance players’ abilities. Jhapa District Cricket Association President Prabin Thapa remarked that many local leagues have emerged following the popularity of the NPL, and added that KPL provides an important opportunity for players who did not get a chance to play in the NPL to showcase their skills.
