NPL Season 3 Opens With Rs 15 Million Prize, Seven Pakistani Players in Doubt

The Nepal Premier League opens its third season on Monday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah attending the opening ceremony, Setopati reported. The Cricket Association of Nepal, the tournament's organiser, confirmed the eight-team competition runs from October 26 to November 21, with every match played in Kathmandu.

CAN has raised the winner's prize to Rs 15 million, roughly $113,000, up from Rs 11 million last season, Nagarik News and Online Khabar reported. The runner-up takes home Rs 8 million, roughly $60,000, third place Rs 4 million, roughly $30,000, and fourth place Rs 3 million, roughly $22,500, according to CAN's press conference carried by Republica and Nagarik. That is Rs 4 million more than last season's champions got, CAN told reporters.

The money matches the league's growing reach. CAN treasurer Padam Khadka told reporters the tournament's sponsorship, ticketing and franchise dealings will push total turnover past Rs 1 billion, roughly $7.5 million, this season, Nagarik News reported. Himalaya Television paid Rs 146.4 million for broadcast rights this year, excluding tax, roughly $1.1 million, nearly five times what Kantipur Television paid for the same rights last season, Nagarik News reported. Star overseas players, including Australia's David Warner, West Indies' Andre Russell, South Africa's David Miller and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, are signed to play, Setopati reported, and the league has the International Cricket Council's official recognition for the first time, along with the Decision Review System.

But a day before kickoff, the participation of several Pakistani players hung in doubt. Cricinfo, citing people connected to the NPL, reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board had stopped issuing No Objection Certificates, the clearance a player's home board must give before they can play abroad, for players bound for the NPL, Setopati reported. Even players who already had the certificate were told their permission was on hold, Setopati said, and some have already reached Kathmandu. CAN secretary Paras Khadka said he had heard the same but that Nepal cannot intervene, since the certificate is entirely the Pakistan board's call, and that no player can take the field without one, Setopati reported. He spoke at the Kirtipur ground on Sunday, October 25.

Some people connected to the league say the PCB may have asked for about $25,000 per player, roughly Rs 3.3 million, to release the certificates, Setopati reported. Setopati said it is not confirmed whether the demand was made in writing, and that whether the fee or some other dispute is holding up the paperwork remains unclear. The PCB has not responded to the claim, Setopati reported.

Setopati listed seven Pakistani players due to play, Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan's T20 captain, Haider Ali, Hunain Shah, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali and Usama Mir, and noted none of them clash with any Pakistan national team fixture during the NPL's dates. Yahoo Sports, whose fee report rests on the X account T20 Tracker, listed six Pakistani players in NPL squads, naming all but Hunain Shah and listing their franchises: Hasan Ali and Usama Mir at Chitwan Rhinos, Iftikhar Ahmed at Janakpur Bolts, Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat at Karnali Yaks, and Haider Ali at Sudurpaschim Royals.

What the coverage missed

Pakistan's board has faced this accusation before. Major League Cricket franchises in the United States accused the PCB of asking for the identical $25,000 per player for clearance in July, with one source calling it extortion, Yahoo Sports reported.

DC Nepal reported that all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has signed to play for Chitwan Rhinos this season, and Nawaz does not appear on either list of Pakistani players due to play. None of the reports we read says whether his clearance has been issued.

What we still do not know

Whether the PCB actually made the $25,000 demand, and in writing, is a question only the PCB's own office can answer on the record.

Whether the seven named players will be cleared before their teams' opening matches is a question CAN secretary Paras Khadka and the affected franchises have not yet answered.