The Nepal Weekly 
December 24, 2024
In the final game of Nepal Premier League held on on Saturday, 21st December 21, Janakpur Bolts clinched the Nepal Premier League title after a thumping 5-wicket win over Sudurpaschim Royals. The final game was held at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur.
Lahiru Milantha smashed a 49-ball 87 as Janakpur Bolts made light work of the run chase of 185 against Sudurpaschim Royals. Milantha and skipper Aasif Sheikh (33 off 19 balls) shared a 73-run stand for the first wicket in seven overs to lay the foundation for a smooth run
After the two openers departed and wickets fell at the other end, Harsh Thaker (30* off 24 balls) remained unbeaten alongside Mayan Yadav (2* off 3 balls) to see the team home with 4 balls to spare. For Royals, Scott Kuggeleijn, Saif Zaib and Ishan Pandey claimed a wicket each in a losing cause. Earlier, opting to bat first, Sudurpaschim Royals got off to a great start as openers Saif Zaib (69 off 43 balls) and Binod Bhandari (41 off 31 balls) added 117 runs from 72 balls for the first wicket before Lalit Rajbanshi broke the stand, leading to successive dismissals in the space of 3 deliveries.
Janakpur Bolts, the winning team of the first season of Nepal Premier League (NPL), has received NRs 11 million in cash and trophy. In the prize distribution ceremony, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Chairman of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Chatur Bahadur Chand jointly handed over the bank cheque of the amount to the Captain and cricketer of Janakpur Bolts Ashif Sheikh and Anil Shah.
Likewise, Minister for Youth and Sports Tejulal Chaudhary provided NRs 5.1 million to the first-runner up, Sudurpaschim Royals.
Similarly, second-runner up Karnali Yaks got NRs 2.5 million while Chitwan Rhinos got NRs 1.5 million as the fourth prize of the NPL.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Chief Minister of Madhesh Province Satish Kumar Singh handed over the bank cheques to Karnali Yaks and Chitwan Rhinos.
The tournament featured 8 teams competing in 32 matches from 30 November.
The first edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has turned a highly appreciable event in Nepali sports history. By successfully organising such a big tournament, the leadership of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has shown capability, which is to be dubbed as building a broad-way for cricket in Nepal.
For organizing the big event, CAN was able to bring in the private sector to invest into sports. So as eight teams were formed. Well known foreign players were also included in the teams.
Star Sports, which is famous for live broadcasting of sports was also a big factor to expose the NPL events among the world viewers with live broadcasting. As a result, the tournament held in Nepalwith a normal cricket infrastructure, attracted the attention of the cricket lovers around the world.
The event created nice opportunities to Nepalese players to learn from the foreign players as well. Earning around NRs 20 million after playing for less than a month and getting an expensive car as a gift was other additional matters to remarks as a part of the NPL.
However, it is to conclude that the state should extend its support sports sector including such prestigious cricket games. So as the Government and political leadership should consider on need of stadium with better facilities to play cricket to boost the sector.
In the meantime, Tribhuvan University authorities expressed dissatisfaction on the disturbances created by the cricket games, crowd activities, absentism of students in the classes and even tight securities caused the teachers and students to move through road just outside the stadium.
List o Awards and Prize Winners :
List of Nepal Premier League Award and Prize Winners:
Janakpur Bolts – First Prize Winner – NRs 11 million
Sudurpaschim Royals – Runner-ups – NRs 5.1 million
Karnali Yaks – Third Place – NRs 2.5 million
Chitwan Rhinos – Fourth Place – NRs 1.5 million
Lahiru Milantha (Janakpur Bolts) – Player of the Match (final game) – NRs 50,000
Saif Zaib (Sudurpaschim Royals) – Siddhartha Bank Player of the Tournament: NRs 500,000
Dipendra Singh Airee (Sudurpaschim Royals) – Electric Player of the Tournament – Omoda Car
Jimmy Neesham (Janakpur Bolts) – Red Bull Energetic Player of Tournament (Highest Strike Rate) – NRs 200,000
Bipin Sharma (Karnali Yaks) – Emerging player of the tournament – NRs 50,000 and Scholarship
Lumbini Lions – NPL 2024 Fairplay Award
Lahiru Milantha (Janakpur Bolts) – Ncell Max 4s of the Tournament – NRs 200,000
Lalit Rajbanshi (Janakpur Bolts) – Highest Wicket-Taker:
Sher Malla (Janakpur Bolts) – Ultraviolatte Electric Vehicle Catch of Match (final) – NRs 25,000
Hemant Dhami (Janakpur Bolts) – Red Bull Energetic Player of Match (final): NRs 25,000
Lahiru Milantha (Janakpur Bolts) – Ncell Max 4s (FINAL) – NRs 25,000
Participating teams
