30 Sudurpaschim Players Feature in Third Edition of Nepal Premier League

Mahendranagar: Thirty players from Sudurpaschim Province are competing in the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), currently underway in Kathmandu. The Sudurpaschim Royals, the team representing the province, have included 10 players from the region, including renowned Nepali cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee.

Players from Sudurpaschim, the home province of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Chatur Bahadur Chand, are representing all eight teams in this edition of the tournament. According to Birendra Bahadur Chand, president of the Kanchanpur Cricket Association and a CAN central committee member, Kanchanpur has the highest representation among the province’s nine districts, with 13 players participating in the NPL.

“Sudurpaschim consistently ranks at the forefront—not only in cricket but also in many other sports—as a region that produces athletes,” Chand said. “However, it would be fair to say that the state of sports infrastructure remains quite poor.”

He noted that although Baitadi has a cricket ground, training facilities in other districts remain basic and are only adequate for the time being.

The Sudurpaschim Royals squad includes Kanchanpur natives Dipendra Singh Airee (captain), Binod Bhandari, Hemant Dhami, and Milan Bohara, along with Hikmat Mahara and Deepak Bohara from Baitadi. The team also features Sachin Bhatta from Achham, Tek Rawat and Ayub Chand from Kailali, and Tekraj Thalal from Dadeldhura.

Similarly, Sandeep Jora and Dilip Nath from Kanchanpur, Sher Malla from Doti, and Dinesh Adhikari from Achham are playing for the Lumbini Lions. Bikash Agri and Aditya Mahata, both from Kanchanpur, have joined the Janakpur Bolts, while Bhim Sarki and Sajan Gautam from Kanchanpur, along with Prasiddha Jaisi from Kailali, are representing the Kathmandu Gorkhas.

Lokesh Bam from Doti, along with Narayan Joshi and Naren Saud from Kailali, are playing for the Biratnagar Kings, while Yubraj Khatri from Bajhang is part of the Karnali Yaks. The Chitwan Rhinos feature Kamal Singh Airee from Kanchanpur, Arjun Saud and Bipin Rawal from Kailali, Ashok Dhami from Bajhang, and Deepak Bohara from Dadeldhura. Meanwhile, Akash Chand and Kiran Thagunna, both from Kanchanpur, are representing the Pokhara Avengers.

Chand said Sudurpaschim continues to produce new and talented players every year. “Most of the players currently participating in the NPL have also featured in the previous two editions,” he said. He added that the strong passion for cricket in Sudurpaschim is evident from the presence of fans from the region at the tournament.

He also stressed the need to develop cricket infrastructure in the province, which continues to produce a significant number of cricket players.

“There has been a lot of discussion about the Phapla Cricket Ground in Dhangadhi for a long time, but it remains incomplete,” Chand said. “Similarly, the cricket ground in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, which has been under construction since 2072 BS, is also unfinished.”

Chand said hopes for completing the Mahendranagar cricket ground have been renewed after the National Sports Council allocated Rs 30 million for its construction in the current fiscal year.

“The tendering process for the allocated budget is currently underway,” he said. “We are optimistic that, starting next year, players will be able to conduct regular training sessions and participate in tournaments on their home ground.”