Arjun Trophy: Dhangadhi and Dadeldhura to face off in opening match

Dhangadhi: Preparations for the highly anticipated Arjun Trophy national cricket tournament, set to commence in Dhangadhi on Saturday, have been successfully completed.

Organizers Go Dreamers held a press conference at the Fapla International Cricket Ground on Friday, confirming that all necessary arrangements have been finalized. The tournament, which is part of the annual calendar of the Nepal Cricket Association, will run until Magh 28, with all matches taking place at the Fapla International Cricket Ground.

Dedicated to the late Arjun Khadka, a revered cricket figure from Dhangadhi and the Far West Province, the tournament aims to honor his legacy. Go Dreamers President Subash Shahi stated that four pitches have been constructed at Fapla International Cricket Ground, artificial turf has been installed for spectators, and all management work has been completed.

The tournament will be officially inaugurated by Meghraj Khadka, Minister for Social Development of the Far West Province. The opening ceremony will also feature a musical performance by singer Chakra Bam.

Dhangadhi vs. Dadeldhura in Opening Match

DCA Dhangadhi and Friends Club Dadeldhura will face off in the tournament’s opening match at 12:15 PM. National team members Lalil Rajbanshi, Lokesh Bam, Narayan Joshi, and Amit Shrestha will represent DCA Dhangadhi, while Kushal Bhurtel, Sandeep Jora, Binod Bhandari, and Hemant Dhami will play for Friends Club Dadeldhura.

A total of eight teams from across Nepal are participating in the tournament. The teams have been divided into two groups:

Group A: DCA Dhangadhi, Friends Youth Club Dadeldhura, Ghodaghodi-11 Sukhkhad, and Boston Cricket Jhapa.

Group B: CYC Attariya, Cricket Excellence Center Kathmandu, New Horizon Butwal, and Dasharath Chand Academy Baitadi.

The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format.

Rs. 20 Lakhs in Cash Prizes

The Arjun Trophy will feature a total cash prize of Rs. 20 lakhs. The tournament champion will receive Rs. 10 lakhs along with a running trophy, while the runner-up will be awarded Rs. 500,000 and a trophy.

Additional prizes include:

Best player of the tournament: Rs. 100,000

Best batsman, best bowler, and emerging player: Rs. 50,000 each

Man of the match for each game: Rs. 10,000

National Players Representing Different Clubs

Several members of the Nepali national team are participating in the Arjun Trophy for different clubs:

DCA Dhangadhi: Lalil Rajbanshi, Lokesh Bam, Narayan Joshi, Amit Shrestha

Friends Club Dadeldhura: Kushal Bhurtel, Sandeep Jora, Binod Bhandari, Hemant Dhami

CYC Attariya: Bhim Sarki, Vivek Yadav, Sahab Alam, Rashid Khan, Dipesh Kandel, Santosh Karki

New Horizon Butwal: Kushal Malla, Dilip Nath, Tulabahadur Thapa, Deepak Dumre, Prateek Shrestha

Cricket Excellence Center Kathmandu: Nandan Yadav, Dipendra Rawat, Surya Tamang, Younis Vikram Singh, Arjun Gharti, Sonu Ansari

Dasharath Chand Academy Baitadi: Bhuwan Karki, Amar Singh Rautela, Khadak Bohora, Deepak Bohora, Basant Khatri

Ghodaghodi-11: Sher Malla, Naren Saund, Ayub Chand, Bipin Bikram Shahi

Boston Cricket Jhapa: Pawan Karki, Ramesh Bhatt

The tournament features a structured player classification system:

Category A: Nepali national team players

Category B: Nepal A team, U-19 national team, and provincial senior players

Category C: U-16 national team players, U-19 and U-16 provincial players, and other cricketers

Special Prize for Spectators

A unique incentive has been introduced for spectators. The first person to catch a ball hit for a six will receive Rs. 100,000 in cash, sponsored by Dhangadhi’s Bread Box. Additional cash prizes will be awarded for other catches.

Moreover, Khalti F will provide an AirPods prize daily to one lucky spectator who catches a ball. Tickets for the Arjun Trophy can be purchased through the Khalti app, with prices set at Rs. 200 for VIP seating and Rs. 100 for general admission.

Bus Service for Spectators

To facilitate transportation, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has arranged a special bus service to Fapla International Cricket Ground throughout the tournament period. Buses will run at 20-minute intervals along two routes: one from Campus Road in Dhangadhi to Fapla and another from the main road’s outer area to the venue. The service is being provided at a concessional rate to ensure convenience for spectators.

Excitement is building among fans, who are thrilled to witness high-quality cricket with enhanced facilities and incentives.