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Kathmandu, Nepal — Nepal’s premier domestic T20 cricket competition is set for another major chapter, with the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026.



According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament will run through November 21, bringing together all eight NPL franchises for another battle for the league title.



Preparations for the new season are already underway. The player auction has been completed, and the franchises have now turned their attention to strengthening their squads with overseas signings ahead of the tournament.



The upcoming season will carry added significance as the NPL continues to establish itself as Nepal’s flagship franchise-based cricket competition. The league has produced two different champions in its first two editions.



Janakpur Bolts claimed the inaugural NPL title, while Lumbini Lions emerged as champions in the second edition.



Interestingly, Sudurpaschim Royals have finished runners-up in both previous seasons, making them one of the most consistent teams in the competition and a side expected to be among the contenders once again.



With the auction completed and overseas recruitment underway, attention will now shift toward squad building, team combinations and preparations for the third season.



The 2026 edition is expected to add another chapter to the rapidly growing popularity of franchise cricket in Nepal.

UTRECHT — Nepal’s bowlers created an early opening, but the batting unit could not take advantage as the Netherlands secured a comfortable 57-run victory in the 120th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two.



Chasing 226 at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Nepal were bowled out for 168 in 48 overs. Aasif Sheikh top-scored with 38, but no Nepal batter managed to build the substantial innings required to challenge the Dutch total.



Karan gives Nepal the perfect start



Nepal won the toss and chose to bowl, and Karan KC delivered an immediate breakthrough by removing Cedric de Lange with the first ball of the match.



The Netherlands soon found themselves under serious pressure. Karan also dismissed Zach Lion-Cachet, Hemant Dhami removed Max O’Dowd, and Lalit Rajbanshi bowled Bas de Leede to leave the Dutch struggling at 56 for four in the 18th over.



At that stage, Nepal appeared to be in control. However, captain Scott Edwards and Noah Croes responded with patience rather than panic.



The pair added 116 runs for the fifth wicket, gradually wearing down Nepal’s attack and changing the direction of the match. Edwards scored 57 from 91 balls, while Croes made a match-defining 70 from 93 deliveries.



Croes struck four boundaries and remained at the crease until the Netherlands had reached 195. Logan van Beek then added a useful 27 from 27 balls as the Dutch recovered to post 225 for nine from their 50 overs.



Karan was again Nepal’s outstanding bowler, finishing with four wickets for 30 runs from 10 overs, including two maidens. Dipendra Singh Airee took two wickets, while Hemant and Lalit claimed one each.



Nepal’s chase never gathers momentum



Nepal’s reply began in the worst possible way when Kushal Bhurtel was bowled by Kyle Klein for a three-ball duck.



Bhim Sharki made 10 before also falling to Klein, while Ishan Pandey scored 16 as Nepal slipped to 50 for three in the 15th over.



Aasif Sheikh attempted to hold the innings together, but the required scoring rate continued to rise. He faced 78 deliveries for his 38 before being dismissed by Roelof van der Merwe.



Captain Rohit Paudel made 26, but his dismissal immediately after Dipendra’s departure left Nepal in deep trouble at 104 for six.



The middle and lower order could not produce a recovery. Aarif Sheikh scored eight and Gulsan Jha made 11 as Nepal lost two more wickets with the score on 127.



Karan provided some late resistance, hitting two sixes in his 23 from 29 deliveries. Hemant remained unbeaten on 15, but Nepal were eventually dismissed when Zach Lion-Cachet bowled Lalit Rajbanshi from the final ball of the 48th over.



Klein led the Netherlands attack with three wickets for 26 runs. Van Beek produced an economical spell of two for 16, while Van der Merwe and Lion-Cachet also took two wickets each.



Croes was named Player of the Match for the innings that rescued the Netherlands from early trouble and provided the foundation for their winning total.



Brief scores: Netherlands 225/9 in 50 overs (Noah Croes 70, Scott Edwards 57; Karan KC 4/30) beat Nepal 168 all out in 48 overs (Aasif Sheikh 38, Rohit Paudel 26; Kyle Klein 3/26) by 57 runs.

UTRECHT — Nepal came agonisingly close to completing a tense run chase but fell three runs short against Namibia in the 119th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd.



Chasing 212 for victory, Nepal finished on 208 for six from their 50 overs. Aarif Sheikh and Gulsan Jha fought until the final delivery, but Namibia held their nerve to secure a narrow victory.



Nepal had earlier won the toss and elected to bowl. Their decision appeared to have paid off when Namibia lost Michael van Lingen and Malan Kruger with only 37 runs on the board.



However, Jan Frylinck and Louren Steenkamp rebuilt the innings with a crucial 131-run partnership. The pair batted patiently, absorbed the pressure created by Nepal’s bowlers and gradually put Namibia back in control.



Steenkamp scored 59 from 87 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six. Frylinck went on to complete a hard-earned century, making exactly 100 from 149 balls before being run out by Nepal captain Rohit Paudel in the 49th over.



Namibia eventually posted 211 for seven from their 50 overs.



Karan KC was the standout performer for Nepal, claiming five wickets for only 29 runs from his 10 overs. His spell included two maidens and helped prevent Namibia from producing a stronger finish. Sompal Kami took the other wicket.



Nepal began their chase steadily as Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh added 51 runs for the opening wicket. Bhurtel scored 34 from 47 deliveries before being dismissed by Jack Brassell.



Aasif anchored the early part of the chase but struggled to increase the scoring rate. He made 45 from 89 balls before Ruben Trumpelmann removed him, leaving Nepal at 104 for four.



The pressure increased when Dipendra Singh Airee was run out for three, reducing Nepal to 113 for five after 35 overs. With the required rate rising, captain Rohit Paudel and Aarif Sheikh brought Nepal back into the contest.



Rohit played positively for his 41 from 50 deliveries and shared a 65-run partnership with Aarif. But his dismissal in the 48th over left Nepal needing 34 runs from the final 16 balls.



Gulsan Jha then gave Nepal renewed hope with an unbeaten 19 from only 10 deliveries. He struck two fours and helped Nepal collect 13 runs from the final over, but the team could not find the boundary needed to cross the finishing line.



Aarif remained unbeaten on 38 from 49 balls as Nepal ended three runs behind Namibia’s total.



Brassell was Namibia’s leading wicket-taker with three for 46, while Trumpelmann claimed two wickets. Bernard Scholtz did not take a wicket but delivered a hugely influential spell, conceding only 14 runs from his 10 overs, including two maidens.



Frylinck was named Player of the Match for his century, which proved to be the difference in a closely fought contest.



Brief scores: Namibia 211/7 in 50 overs (Jan Frylinck 100, Louren Steenkamp 59; Karan KC 5/29) beat Nepal 208/6 in 50 overs (Aasif Sheikh 45, Rohit Paudel 41; Jack Brassell 3/46) by three runs.



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 119th Match — ICC Cricket World Cup League Two
 

 
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UTRECHT — Nepal’s bowlers briefly raised hopes of defending a modest total, but Netherlands captain Scott Edwards produced a composed unbeaten half-century to secure a six-wicket victory in the 117th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two.



The Netherlands recovered from 73 for four to reach their 158-run target in 44.1 overs. Edwards finished unbeaten on 61 from 89 deliveries and was named Player of the Match.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nepal’s top order collapses again</h2>



Asked to bat after losing the toss, Nepal made a difficult start as their first four wickets fell for only 42 runs.



Aasif Sheikh scored 14, Kushal Bhurtel made nine, captain Rohit Paudel managed three and Ishan Pandey was dismissed for four. Alexander Roy caused most of the early damage, claiming three wickets in an economical eight-over spell.



Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh attempted to rebuild the innings, but the scoring rate remained low. Dipendra departed for 21 from 42 balls before Aarif added a valuable partnership with Gulsan Jha.



Gulsan provided Nepal’s most aggressive contribution, hitting two sixes in his 29 from 42 deliveries. Aarif battled for 90 balls and top-scored with 41, but Nepal were eventually bowled out for 157 in 44.4 overs.



Roy finished with three wickets for 24 runs, while veteran spinner Roelof van der Merwe claimed three for 15. Logan van Beek took two wickets as the Dutch attack prevented Nepal from using their full 50 overs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nepal fight back with the ball</h2>



Nepal gave themselves an opportunity by making regular breakthroughs during the Netherlands chase.



Sompal Kami bowled Max O’Dowd for nine before Dipendra removed Cedric de Lange for 21. Lalit Rajbanshi then dismissed Bas de Leede for one, while Zach Lion-Cachet was run out for 21, leaving the hosts under pressure at 73 for four in the 23rd over.



However, Nepal could not break the fifth-wicket partnership between Edwards and Noah Croes.



The pair added an unbroken 85 runs, calmly reducing the target without taking unnecessary risks. Croes supported his captain with an unbeaten 34 from 59 balls, while Edwards struck two fours and one six during his match-winning innings.



Lalit was Nepal’s most economical bowler, returning figures of one for 22 from 10 overs, including three maidens. Dipendra conceded only eight runs from four overs and took one wicket, but Sandeep Lamichhane remained wicketless as the Netherlands completed the chase with 35 balls remaining.



The result leaves Nepal with further questions over their batting, particularly after another failure to establish a strong top-order partnership or post a competitive total.



Brief scores: Nepal 157 all out in 44.4 overs (Aarif Sheikh 41, Gulsan Jha 29; Alexander Roy 3/24, Roelof van der Merwe 3/15) lost to Netherlands 158/4 in 44.1 overs (Scott Edwards 61 not out, Noah Croes 34 not out) by six wickets.



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 Netherlands vs Nepal
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 117th Match — ICC Cricket World Cup League Two
 

 
 View the full scorecard, match result and player performances.
 

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