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At the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepali cricket made history recently. The credit for this feat—the successful conclusion of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament (Nov 30-Dec 21)—goes to the entire sports fraternity.

It’s a celebration for all, including the government, the winning team, Janakpur Bolts, other participating teams, ace cricketers from Nepal and beyond, the organizers (Cricket Association of Nepal), sponsors, national and international media involved in the coverage of the tourney, ground staff, fans and empires.  

Through the maiden NPL title win, Janakpur Bolts have etched their name in history and this win should be an occasion for celebration for the sports fraternity. It is natural for fans of a squad to get disappointed when a rival team wins but this does not allow them to opt for physical violence and racist remarks against the ‘rivals’. Sadly, that’s what happened during and after the final match between the Bolts and the Sudurpaschim Royals.

The organizers and law enforcement should learn some humbling lessons from the cricket ground, and so should fans. The fans, diehard and misguided ones in particular, should bear in mind that violence is not acceptable at all, whether on or off the sporting arena.

For law enforcement and the management, it is indeed quite difficult to ensure order in a euphoric, roughly 25000-strong crowd but this does not mean these authorities should not prepare for worst-case scenarios. Now that the unwelcome incident has occurred, the onus is on law enforcement to conduct a free, fair and credible probe, take action against the guilty and come up with preventive measures keeping in mind the possibility of vested interests using such events to stoke up hostilities between different communities living in peace and harmony in a country comprising the Himalayas, the Tarai and the Hills.

With some sobering lessons, the NPL has shown that Nepal, endowed with favorable weather conditions and friendly, cheering people well aware of the sporting culture, has the potential to become a great neutral venue for major international sporting tournaments, including cricket. The time has come to channelize our energies toward that end as well.

The Madhesi Commission has issued a strong statement condemning the racist, communal and discriminatory behavior displayed by a disruptive group during the Nepal Premier League (NPL) matches featuring Janakpur Bolts. The Commission expressed that such actions are unacceptable.

It criticized security authorities for failing to take action against the guilty party, though clear evidence of misconduct was shared through various media platforms, pointing that this reflects a lack of responsibility and decorum within the security agencies.

In its statement, the Commission underscored that the Constitution, laws and regulations of any country reflect its civilizations, cultures and social norms, and must be upheld. It also pointed out that despite legal provisions against discrimination, untolerable behaviors rooted in racial and social bias persist. The Commission warned that such discriminatory attitudes, particularly against the Madhesi community, will pose challenges to national unity and progress.

The Commission specifically condemned the derogatory slogans and protests targeting Janakpur players and supporters during the match, calling them a serious violation of the law and an act of deep disrespect. It urged the government to take immediate legal action against the perpetrators and address the situation with sensitivity.

Furthermore, the Commission has formally drawn the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs toward the matter and called all parties involved to exercise restraint and civility.

Politicians including CK Raut and Gagan Thapa have condemned the misconduct against the Madhesi community.

Sudurpaschim Royals skipper Dipendra Singh Airee has won the car by being the best player of the Nepal Premier League.

Airee, who failed to win the Nepal Premier League title, won the car.

Similarly, Lalit Rajbansi of Janakpur Bolts has been rewarded with the motorbike. He is the season’s highest wicket-taker.

Janakpur Bolts defeated Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets to clinch the title of first season of Nepal Premier League.

Chasing the target of 185 runs posted by Sudurpaschim Royals in the match held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Saturday, Janakpur Bolts achieved the target in 19.2 overs losing five wickets.

Lahiru Milantha scored highest 87 runs for Janakpur, hitting nine fours and four sixes in 49 balls. With this, Milantha has become the highest run scorer in the tournament. He made 293 runs in 10 innings with two half centuries.

Janakpur scored 71 runs without the loss of any wicket in the powerplay.

Opener Aasif Sheikh contributed 33 runs off 19 balls with four fours and two sixes. Harsh Thaker scored 30 off 24 balls.

Winning the toss, opener Saif Zaib scored 69 runs off 43 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes in 43 balls.

Another opener, Binod Bhandari added 41 runs off 31 balls. Similarly, Brandon McMullen and Harmanpreet Singh made 14 runs each and Scott Kuggeleijn scored 13 runs while other batters failed to score in double digits.

Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato took three wickets each for Janakpur. Likewise, James Neesham and Lalit Rajbansi claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Janakpur had lost to Sudurpaschim by 72 runs in the league stage and by eight wickets in the first qualifier.

Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Karnali Yaks by six wickets in the last match of the league stage in the ongoing Nepal Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament.

Sudurpaschim achieved the 102-run target set by Karnali in 15.2 overs at the loss of four wickets. The match was held at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Ishan Pandey scored 38 runs each for Sudurpaschim. Similarly, Saif Zaib made 11 runs, Binod Bhandari and Aarif Sheikh hit four runs each, Brandon MacMullen three runs. Sudurpaschim secured seven extra runs in the match.

Towards bowling, captain Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma and Nandan Yadav took one wicket each.

Sent into bat first after losing the toss, Karnali Yaks made 101 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of 10 wickets.

Zeeshan Maqsood scored highest 30 runs with the help of four fours in 35 balls for Karnali. William Bosisto scored 16 runs, Babar Hayat 13, and captain Sompal Kami and Chadwick Walton each made 11 runs.

Towards bowling, Harmeet Singh took the highest three wickets for Sudurpaschim. Similarly, captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets each while Saif Zaib took one wicket.

Playoff equation completes

The playoff equation of NPL has been completed with the conclusion of the league stage games. Karnali have entered the playoff despite losing to Sudurpaschim. Kathmandu Gurkhas are out of the playoff stage. 

Janakpur Bolts, Chitwan Rhinos and Sudurpaschim Royals have already reached the playoff stage before this.

Sudurpscahim will play against Janakpur in the first qualifier of NPL while Chitwan and Karnali will vie in the eliminator match.

Karnali Yaks defeated Lumbini Lions by five runs in today's first match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket tournament held at the TU Cricket Ground at Kirtipur.

Chasing a target of 129 runs set by Karnali Yaks, Lumbini Lions were bowled out in 123 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of seven wickets.

Tom Moores top scored for Lumbini, making 36 runs including four fours and one six in 35 balls.

Similarly, Sundeep Jora scored 24 runs while Aashutosh Ghiraiya and Saad Bin Zafar each made 16 runs, Arjun Saud hit 13 runs and captain Rohit Kumar Paudel was out on 10 runs. Apart from these players, other Lumbini players could not make runs in the double digits.

Karnali Yak's Zeeshan Maqsood took two wickets while Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Bipin Sharma and William Bosisto took one wicket each, in limiting the Lumbini Lions to 123 runs.

Karnali, who were invited to bat first after losing the toss, made a total 128 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, losing eight wickets. William Bosisto made the highest 44 runs for Karnali with the help of three fours and three sixes in 30 balls.

Similarly, Arjun Gharti hit 25 runs including two fours and one six in 25 balls. Opener Babar Hayat made 20 runs including one four and one six in 22 balls and Walton scored 13 runs. Other batters failed to score in double digits.

Bikash Aagri who debuted for Lumbini took three wickets while Tilak Raj Bhandari took two wickets. Similarly, Saad Bin Zafar and captain Rohit Kumar Paudel took one wicket each.

With this, Lumbini is out of the NPL while Karnali Yaks has strengthened its playoff chances.

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara arrived in Nepal on Friday.

Lara, who arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning, was welcomed by the officials of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

He came to Nepal to watch the Nepal Premier League (NPL) underway in Kathmandu.

CAN Secretary Paras Khadka through social media on Tuesday gave the information about West Indies cricket legend Lara coming to Nepal.

CAN believes that the arrival of the world-renowned veteran player will further help internationalize Nepali cricket along with the NPL.

It has been learnt that he will watch some matches of NPL and will have a conversation with the players.

The arrival of Lara, who is one of the greatest players in world cricket, will be a memorable moment for Nepali cricket," reads a statement issued by the CAN spokesperson. “The presence of Lara will not only inspire cricket fans, but will also play an important role in the development of Nepali cricket.”

Pokhara Avengers defeated Biratnagar Kings by 13 runs in the super over in today's first match of the Nepal Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament held at the Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground.

Chasing a 140-run target set by Biratnagar, Pokhara made 139 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing six wickets, and the game entered the super over.  This is the first super over match of the NPL so far.

Pokhara had batted first in the super over while Biratnagar skipper Sandeep Lamichhane was bowling.

Raymon Reifer of Pokhara hit a six in the first and second balls respectively. Sandeep maintained a dot in the third ball. Reifer scored a four in the fourth ball. Sandeep conceded one run each in the fifth and the sixth ball. Biratnagar was chasing a target of overall 19 runs in the super over.

Martin Guptill and Nicholas Kirton of Biratnagar took the batting order in the super over. Pokhara brought Reifer for bowling. Martin Guptill made one run in the first ball while Kirton made one run each in the second and third ball. Kirton played dot ball in the fourth ball while scoring one run in the fifth ball.

Reifer threw wide in the fifth ball and kept the last ball as dot ball; thereby Pokhara clinched a 13-run win over Biratnagar in the super over.

Before this, Andries Gous made the highest 39 runs for Pokhara who were chasing a 140-run victory target. Similarly, Raymon Reifer made 34 runs. Captain Kushal Bhurtel scored 31 runs while Dinesh Kharel and Michael Leask each hit 11 runs.

Pratish GC took four wickets for Biratnagar while Chris Sole took two wickets for Biratnagar.

Batting first after winning the toss, Biratnagar made a total 139 runs in 20 overs at the loss of seven wickets. Scott Edwards made the highest 45 runs for Biratnagar, hitting five fours in 35 balls. Similarly, Lokesh Bam scored 26 runs, Bashir Ahamed 21 runs and Kirton 19 runs.  

Sagar Dhakal and Raymon Reifer each took two wickets for Pokhara while captain Kushal Bhurtel and Dinesh Kharel claimed one wicket each.

Chitwan Rhinos defeated Sudurpaschim Royals by 33 runs on Sunday.

This is Sudurpaschim's first defeat in the Nepal Premier League so far. Sudurpaschim had trounced Biratnagar Kings, Kathmandu Gurkhas and Lumbini Lions before this.

Chasing a target of 165-run set by Chitwan Rhinos in the match played at TU Cricket Ground, Sudurpaschim were limited to 131 runs in 18.2 overs losing all the wickets.

Ishan Pandey made the highest 35 runs for Sudurpaschim. He hit four boundaries and one six in 19 balls. Similarly, Saif Zaib scored 18 runs in 11 balls, Binod Bhandari 10 runs, Dilpreet Bajwa 12 runs and Naren Saud 10 runs.

For Chitwan Rhinos, skipper Kushal Malla, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Amar Singh Rautela took two wickets each while Rijan Dhakal and Ranjit Kumal took one wicket each.

Chitwan Rhinos, which won the toss and opted to bat first, scored 164 runs in the allotted 20 overs. 

Opener Hassan Eisakhil made 65 runs with the help of six fours and three sixes in 52 balls. Similarly, Ravi Bopara made 36 runs, including two boundaries and two sixes in 18 balls and captain Kushal Malla hit 13 runs in 16 balls. Bipin Rawal made 17 runs.

For Sudurpaschim, Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets while Saif Zaib, Dipendra Singh Airee and Brandon MacMullen took one wicket each.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the Nepal Premier League will directly contribute to promoting tourism and presenting the youth talent in the international arena.

Unveiling the NPL Trophy from the historic Dharahara premises today, he gave assurances of the government's cooperation and encouragement to NPL as far as possible. The PM said the government is always with the players for the development of the sports sector.

He believed that the NPL will add a new dimension to Nepali cricket.

"Cricket is the dream and also a topic of glory for our present generation. Let us be able to add a new dimension in the Nepali cricket through this League. The government is with you. My interest and ownership will always be there whether, personally, I am in the government or not," Prime Minister Oli said and extended best wishes to all the participating teams for their victory.

He also wished that may the youth talent be exposed and the thinking that Nepalis can do if given the opportunity be established through the NPL.