The Nepal Premier League (NPL), also known as the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Nepal, organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal. Founded in 2024, the league features eight franchise teams based on provinces or major cities.
The league is held every year between October and December. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with the top teams moving forward to the playoffs.
In 2022, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) organised the Nepal T20 League after signing a à ¤°à ¥Â. 330 million agreement with the Indian sports management company Seven3Sports to host a franchise Twenty20 league tournament in Nepal for one year. However, the league was marred by several controversies and allegations, including match-fixing and corruption.
The match between Kathmandu Knights and Biratnagar Super Kings on 3 January 2023 was delayed by two hours after players refused to take the field due to unpaid salaries. Players had been contracted to receive 40% of their payments before the start of the tournament and the remaining 60% during the event. Only players from Pokhara Avengers and Lumbini All Stars had received 50% of their contracted amount, while others had received nothing. The game resumed after CAN officials assured the players that their payments would be processed.
On 4 January 2023, the captain of Kathmandu Knights, Gyanendra Malla, revealed that one of his teammates had been approached with a matchâÂÂfixing proposal and that the matter had been reported to the tournament's AntiâÂÂCorruption Unit. The incident was reported to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit, which subsequently dispatched a team to Nepal to investigate the allegations. The Central Investigation Bureau also formed specialized teams to look into the claims. The BureauâÂÂs preliminary investigation revealed that three Nepali and four foreign players were under surveillance for suspected spot-fixing. Evidence also suggested that Seven3Sports, the eventâÂÂs management company, was involved in the wrongdoing. As a result, the league was ultimately shut down.
Following the shutdown of the Nepal T20 League and the Nepal national cricket teamâÂÂs qualification for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, the Cricket Association of Nepal announced in January 2024 the launch of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), scheduled for November and December.
On 2 August 2024, CAN invited proposals for franchise ownership, later confirming that the 2024 Nepal Premier League would feature eight teams, each representing a major city in Nepal. This marked an expansion from previous competitions such as the Everest Premier League and the Nepal T20 League, which fielded only six teams.
To determine team ownership, CAN held a franchise auction on 5 September 2024. All eight teams were sold through a bidding process for a combined total of à ¤°à ¥Â. 1,68,89,32,310. The franchise representing Pokhara fetched the highest price at à ¤°à ¥Â. 35,700,000, bought by Nepal T-Twenty Cricket Pvt. Ltd. It was followed by the Kathmandu franchise, sold for à ¤°à ¥Â. 33,333,339 to Kantipur Publications. The team representing Karnali received the lowest successful bid of à ¤°à ¥Â. 11,170,000 from Himalayan Builders.
The 2024 season of the NPL offered total prize money of .
Teams acquire players through an auction. Each team has a squad of 16 players, with the opportunity of signing up to four foreign players and one marquee player from a random draw. Unsold players at the auction can become replacement signings. Teams operate under a salary cap.
The league has eight teams based in provinces and cities across Nepal.
A summary of the most notable statistical records associated with the tournament is provided below.
The Nepal Premier League officially announced its television rights partnership with Star Sports and its digital rights partnership with DishHome for the second season.
The league was broadcast live on the following channels: