Kathmandu:The third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), currently taking place in Kathmandu, includes a significant participation of 30 cricketers hailing from the Sudurpashchim Province.
According to National News Agency RSS, the Sudurpashchim Royals, representing the home province, have ten players from Sudurpashchim, featuring well-known cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee. Players from the home province of Chatur Bahadur Chand, the central president of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), are competing professionally across all eight teams in this NPL edition.
Kanchanpur district boasts the highest representation from Sudurpashchim with 13 players on the field, as per Birendra Bahadur Chand, president of the Kanchanpur Cricket Association and a central member of CAN. Chand noted that Sudurpashchim leads as a breeding ground for athletes in various sports, including cricket.
The Sudurpashchim Royals’ lineup includes Kanchanpur captain Dipendra Singh Airee, along with players like Binod Bhandari, Hemanta Dhami, and Milan Bohara. Other team members from the province include Hikmat Mahara and Deepak Bohora from Baitadi, Sachin Bhatt from Achham, Tek Rawat from Kailali, and Ayub Chand and Tekraj Thalal from Dadeldhura.
Additionally, Sandeep Jora from Kanchanpur, Sher Malla from Doti, Dinesh Adhikari from Achham, and Dilip Nath from Kanchanpur are part of the Lumbini Lions. Bikas Agri and Aditya Mehta from Kanchanpur play for Janakpur Bolts, while Bhim Sarki, Sajan Gautam from Kanchanpur, and Prakash Jaishi from Kailali are with the Kathmandu Gorkhas.
Furthermore, Lokesh Bam from Doti and Narayan Joshi and Naren Saud from Kailali are representing Biratnagar Kings, and Yubaraj Khatri from Bajhang is with Karnali Yaks. Kamal Singh Airee from Kanchanpur, Arjun Saud, and Bipin Rawal from Kailali, Ashok Dhami from Bajhang, and Deepak Bohora from Dadeldhura are playing for Chitwan Rhinos. Akash Chand and Kiran Thagunna from Kanchanpur have secured positions in the Pokhara Avengers.