KATHMANDU: The third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has faced a growing challenge with several high-profile international players leaving their respective franchises before the tournament’s conclusion, disrupting team combinations at a crucial stage of the competition.
Some of the biggest overseas names, including David Warner, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali and Shakib Al Hasan, have already departed Nepal. While some left to fulfil commitments in other T20 leagues, others returned for national team duties or personal engagements.
The departures have raised concerns among franchises and disappointed supporters who had expected to see the international stars feature throughout the tournament.
Janakpur Bolts have been among the worst affected, losing several overseas players during the competition. Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed and Hunain Shah returned home without playing a match after encountering issues related to No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who featured in Janakpur’s first four matches, left to join the Abu Dhabi T10 League in the UAE. He scored 108 runs, including an unbeaten 58 against Kathmandu Gorkhas, while also providing an important bowling option. He has joined the Arabian Aces as captain.
Janakpur also lost Bangladesh batter Parvez Hossain Emon, who joined Bangladesh A, and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera, who departed for the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan was also unavailable for the franchise’s latest fixture against Sudurpaschim Royals. He had scored an unbeaten 40 against Kathmandu Gorkhas, 71 against Biratnagar Kings and 28 against Lumbini Lions.
With several overseas players unavailable, Janakpur brought in Ryan Burl and Harry Tector for its match against Sudurpaschim. However, the new signings failed to make a significant impact.
Biratnagar Kings have also suffered a major setback following the departure of West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell.
Russell featured in five matches, scoring 158 runs and taking six wickets. His performances included a half-century and four wickets against Janakpur, helping Biratnagar secure important victories.
He had initially been expected to play only four matches but agreed to extend his stay after receiving an enthusiastic response from Nepali cricket supporters. Russell has now joined the Abu Dhabi T10 League alongside Moeen Ali.
Biratnagar have signed Sri Lankan all-rounder Isuru Udana as his replacement.
Kathmandu Gorkhas also lost one of their biggest attractions, former Australia captain David Warner. Warner scored 127 runs, including a highest score of 66 against Lumbini Lions.
His arrival had helped Kathmandu revive its campaign after an opening-match defeat, with the team subsequently recording four consecutive victories.
Kathmandu had also signed Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, but he never arrived in Nepal after joining the Emirates Eagles for the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Bangladesh bowler Ripon Mondol, who played the first two matches, also departed after being selected for Bangladesh A. He scored nine runs and claimed one wicket.
Pokhara Avengers have experienced similar problems with the departure of Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Shakib played three matches, scoring 26 runs and taking four wickets. He initially travelled to the UAE for personal reasons following Pokhara’s first three matches and returned to Nepal late, missing the fixture against Chitwan Rhinos.
After Pokhara lost its first four matches, the franchise held discussions with Shakib before he eventually departed to join the United Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Saifuddin featured in only one match against Janakpur, conceding 17 runs in an over and taking one wicket. He was dismissed without scoring.
Chitwan Rhinos, meanwhile, faced difficulties even before the tournament began. The franchise had signed Pakistan’s Usama Mir, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz, but NOC-related complications prevented them from participating. Hasan Ali and Nawaz did not travel to Nepal.
Chitwan subsequently recruited England’s Dawid Malan, Dan Mousley and Tom Taylor as replacements.
Karnali Yaks also missed out on the services of Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan. Despite arriving in Nepal before the competition, he returned without playing because of NOC-related issues and his subsequent selection for Pakistan’s national team.
Two-time runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals signed West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford, but his contribution was limited. He scored just 30 runs in four matches before leaving to join the Royal Desert Champions in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Defending champions Lumbini Lions, however, have enjoyed comparatively greater stability. The franchise retained three overseas players from its previous title-winning campaign and avoided major international star signings. None of its six overseas players has left midway through the competition.
The third edition of the NPL has gained greater international significance after receiving official recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Its matches have official T20 status, allowing players’ performances to count towards their recognised career records.
The participation of established international players has also added to the tournament’s profile. Russell and former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara, for instance, reached the milestone of 10,000 runs in T20 cricket following their performances in the competition.
However, the repeated departures have exposed a major challenge for the league. Although international stars have helped attract attention and raise the tournament’s standard, their limited availability has made it difficult for franchises to maintain consistent playing combinations.
The situation has highlighted the importance of assessing overseas players’ availability and commitments before signing them. For future editions, franchises may need to prioritise players who can remain with their teams throughout the tournament rather than relying solely on big international names.
