By Sachit Subba • Cricket • Dec 21, 2025 15:55 PM • 37 views
Nepal’s domestic cricket scene is growing, as Koshi Pride Pvt. Ltd. has announced the third season of the Koshi Pride League (KPL) T20. The tournament will take place in Sunsari from Fagun 9 to 21, which is late February to early March.
At a press conference on Sunday at Hotel Royal Singi in Durbar Marg, organizers said the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has approved the event, and the Koshi Province Cricket Association will help with technical support.
KPL Director Afzal Hussain announced that seven franchise teams will compete for the title this season. The event also introduced the ownership groups for each team, aiming to make the league more professional.
Franchise Ownership Breakdown
The seven competing teams and their respective owners are:
Namuna Blasters: Dharma Neupane
Itahari Adarsha Giants: Kalpit Dhakal
Birtamod Heats: Anurag Pramanik
Purbeli Super Kings: Sanjok Rana, Mahendra Mainali, Santosh Timalsina, Rabin Bista, and Sandesh Sindel.
Everest Thunders: Aakash Khadka
BN Koshi Arnas: Mohammad Seraj Ansari
Gorkha Avengers: Bijay Khadka, Pujan Babu Bhattarai, Kiran Khadka, Amardeep Sapkota, and Raghunath Sapkota.
Squad Regulations and Financial Structure
The KPL has set clear rules for team rosters to balance star players and local talent. Each team must have 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.
Organizers said player registration for the upcoming auction is now open through the MyPay app. The auction date will be shared soon.
Base prices for each auction category are:
Category A: NPR 45,000 – 65,000**
Category B: NPR 25,000 – 45,000
Category C: NPR 5,000 – 25,000
A Pipeline to the National Stage
Director Afzal Hussain spoke about how important the league is for the region. "I am optimistic that the KPL will make grassroots programs in Koshi Province even more effective," Hussain said. "I am confident that this competition will produce new players capable of reaching the Nepal Premier League (NPL), age-group squads, and eventually the National Team."
Official Endorsements
CAN Secretary and former national captain Paras Khadka attended the launch as the chief guest and strongly supported the private sector’s role in developing sports.
"It is a positive step to see such tournaments aimed at professionalizing domestic cricket. I wish the teams the best for the third edition," Khadka said. "You are maturing your own private grounds to host this event. The Koshi Pride League offers a model for other provinces to host similar major leagues."
Local cricket officials also talked about the league’s resilience and good timing. Chetnath Paudel, President of the Sunsari District Cricket Association and the event’s Technical Head, remembered how the region kept cricket going during tough times.
"We have been organizing tournaments in Koshi for a long time, even successfully hosting leagues in Sunsari during the CAN suspension era," Paudel noted. "Hosting the KPL is a joy, especially given the challenges with the grounds in Koshi. This will help equip players and enhance their individual skills."
Prabin Thapa, President of the Jhapa District Cricket Association, pointed to the "NPL effect" as a catalyst for local cricket. "Following the buzz of the NPL, many local leagues are starting up. Continuity is the biggest challenge, and achieving that is a great thing," Thapa observed. "The KPL also serves as a vital platform for talented players who missed out on the NPL to showcase their abilities."
Tournament coordinator Govinda Paudel ended the session by saying the KPL is more than just a tournament. He said it is a place to find young talent that will help Nepali cricket grow.
