Kathmandu, November 12
Several high-profile overseas players have left the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) midway through the tournament, as franchises compete for places in the playoffs.
Despite making significant contributions to their respective teams, some of the tournament’s biggest international names have already departed Kathmandu before the competition has concluded.
Players including David Warner, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali and Shakib Al Hasan have left the tournament for various reasons, including commitments to other leagues, national team duties and personal engagements.
Their early departures have not only disappointed fans but have also disrupted team combinations, forcing franchises to bring in replacements during a crucial stage of the competition.
Janakpur Bolts have been the most affected, with the highest number of overseas players leaving the tournament. Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed and Hunain Shah arrived in Nepal before the competition but returned without playing a match due to disputes over No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
England’s Moeen Ali, who played the first four matches for Janakpur, left to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 League in the UAE. His departure was a significant setback for the franchise, as he had helped maintain balance in both batting and bowling. Moeen scored 108 runs, including an unbeaten 58 against Kathmandu Gorkhas. He has joined the Arabian Aces as captain in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Bangladesh’s Parvez Hossain Emon also left midway through the tournament after joining Bangladesh A. Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera departed to play in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Another key player, Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan, was also absent from Janakpur’s latest match against Sudurpaschim Royals. Saif had made a strong start to the tournament, scoring an unbeaten 40 against Kathmandu in the opening match. He scored 71 against Biratnagar Kings, although Janakpur lost the match by two runs despite needing just three runs for victory. He also scored 28 against Lumbini Lions.
With five overseas players leaving the squad, Janakpur’s team combination and overall performance have been affected. The franchise fielded two new overseas players, Ryan Burl and Harry Tector, against Sudurpaschim in its latest match, but they failed to make a significant impact.
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell’s departure has also dealt a blow to Biratnagar Kings. Russell played five matches for the franchise, despite initially being expected to feature in only four. He agreed to play an additional match after experiencing the affection of Nepali supporters and their enthusiasm for cricket.
Russell scored 158 runs and took six wickets in the tournament. His tally included a half-century against Janakpur, while he also claimed four wickets in the same fixture. His all-round performances played an important role in Biratnagar’s victories over Janakpur and Sudurpaschim.
Russell has also joined the Abu Dhabi T10 League, where he will play alongside Moeen Ali. Biratnagar have signed Sri Lankan veteran medium-pacer and all-rounder Isuru Udana as his replacement.
Former Australia captain and explosive batter David Warner also featured in the tournament for Kathmandu Gorkhas. One of the biggest names to play in the NPL, Warner helped Kathmandu turn around its campaign after losing its opening match. The franchise went on to win four consecutive matches following his arrival.
Warner scored 127 runs, including a half-century. His highest score was 66 against Lumbini Lions, helping Kathmandu secure a victory.
However, Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, who was also signed by Kathmandu, never arrived in Nepal. He had joined the Emirates Eagles for the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Bangladesh’s Ripon Mondol, who played Kathmandu’s first two matches, also left after being selected for Bangladesh A. He scored nine runs and took one wicket in his two appearances.
Pokhara Avengers have also been affected by the departure of two experienced Bangladesh players, Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Shakib played only three matches for Pokhara, taking four wickets and scoring 26 runs. While his bowling performances were reasonable, he could not make a significant contribution with the bat.
Saifuddin featured in just one match against Janakpur, conceding 17 runs in one over and taking one wicket. He was dismissed without scoring.
According to Pokhara Avengers, Shakib initially travelled to the UAE for personal reasons after the team’s first three matches. He subsequently returned to Nepal late and was unavailable for the fourth match against Chitwan. After Pokhara lost its first four matches, the franchise held discussions with him before he left to participate in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. He has joined the United Tigers.
Chitwan Rhinos are another franchise to have faced difficulties with overseas player availability. Before the tournament, Chitwan had signed Pakistani players Usama Mir, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz.
However, they were unable to participate due to NOC-related issues. Hasan Ali and Nawaz did not even travel to Nepal. The franchise subsequently signed England’s Dawid Malan, Dan Mousley and Tom Taylor as replacements.
Defending champions Lumbini Lions, meanwhile, have not faced similar disruptions. The franchise retained three overseas players who helped it win the previous edition and did not make major star signings for the third season. None of the six overseas players signed by Lumbini has left the tournament midway, giving the team greater stability in terms of its composition and balance.
Karnali Yaks also lost the services of prominent Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan. Although he arrived in Nepal before the tournament, NOC-related issues and his subsequent selection for Pakistan’s national team meant he returned without playing a single match.
Two-time runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals had signed West Indies star Sherfane Rutherford. Although he arrived in Nepal before the tournament, he failed to make a significant impact with the bat.
Rutherford played four matches for Sudurpaschim, scoring just 30 runs. He remained unbeaten on eight against Pokhara and 21 against Chitwan, with both matches ending in victories for his side. He was dismissed for a duck against Biratnagar in a match reduced to five overs, having opened the batting, and scored just one run against Lumbini. He subsequently left to join the Royal Desert Champions in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
The third edition of the NPL received official recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC), making it easier for franchises to recruit international players this season. The tournament’s matches have also received official T20 status, meaning players’ performances and records count towards their recognised career statistics.
The presence of established international players has added to the tournament’s profile. Andre Russell and Ravi Bopara, for instance, reached the milestone of 10,000 runs in T20 cricket following their performances in the NPL.
The tournament has also provided several overseas players with an opportunity to showcase their abilities. However, their early departures have left fans disappointed and created challenges for the franchises.
The availability of overseas players has emerged as a major concern for teams. When high-profile players leave midway, finding replacements of similar quality becomes difficult. Sudden departures can also disrupt team combinations and affect performances, particularly during the crucial stage of the tournament.
The experience has highlighted that signing star players alone is not enough. Franchises must also ensure their availability and commitment throughout the competition when recruiting overseas players for future editions.
