As the Nepal Premier League approaches, all eight teams are continuing the process of signing foreign players. While player signings are still underway, the teams have finalized their head coaches.
Some teams have continued with their coaches from the previous edition, while others have appointed new ones.
Here’s all you need to know about the head coaches of the eight teams.
Janakpur Bolts
The defending champions, Janakpur Bolts, have not continued their title-winning coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, this season. Instead, Janakpur has appointed West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul as the head coach.
Chanderpaul is one of the all-time greats of West Indies cricket. Having played international cricket for more than two decades, he has scored over 20,000 runs in international cricket. He has more than 11,800 runs in Test cricket and over 8,700 runs in ODIs.
Known for his unique batting style, he is regarded as one of the most successful and consistent players of the West Indies. He has scored more than 27,000 runs in first-class cricket.
Chanderpaul said he aims to follow the path of success achieved here last year.
“This is my first time here, so I don’t know many things. I’ll learn a lot from the local coaches,” he said. “If we play good cricket, we can defend the title.”
I am here to help this team defend the title and to help young players showcase their skills, he added.
Sudurpaschim Royals
Last edition’s runners-up Sudurpaschim have continued Nepal’s experienced coach Jagat Tamatta as the head coach for the second season as well.
After reaching the finals and losing last year, Tamatta aims to win the title this time. He said the team has prepared well.
“We have been continuously practicing for the past few days, the foreign players are also in good touch. We won’t let our Sudurpaschim fans be disappointed,” Tamatta said.`
Noting that playing under floodlights will pose some challenges, he added, “Playing under lights is not easy; it is a challenge. We have to play good cricket.”
Chitwan Rhinos
Chitwan Rhinos have appointed last season’s assistant coach Kalam Ali as their head coach. Ali said that after reaching the playoffs last season, the aim for this year is to deliver a title-winning performance.
“Everyone’s goal is to win the title. We will go match by match,” Ali said. “Compared to last season, we have focused more on domestic players this time. Even in foreign signings, we have tried to maintain a balance. Our goal is to produce the best result this season.”
Ali also acknowledged the pressure and challenges of moving from assistant coach to head coach.
“Of course, this position brings challenges. You have to accept them and keep improving,” he said.
Karnali Yaks
Karnali Yaks have continued last season’s coach, Gyanendra Malla, for this edition as well. Last season, Karnali reached the playoffs but were eliminated in the second qualifier by Janakpur Bolts.
Malla said that both foreign and Nepali players are expected to perform well, and the goal is to reach the playoffs again and win the title.
Raju Basnyat will support Malla as the assistant coach.
Kathmandu Gorkhas
Kathmandu have appointed India’s Monty Desai, who previously coached Nepal’s national team, as their head coach.
During Monty’s two-year tenure, Nepal retained its ODI status, played in the Asia Cup for the first time, and made a comeback to the T20 World Cup after a decade.
Monty has returned to Nepal once again, but with a different objective.
Monty said this season’s squad is well-balanced, with both foreign and Nepali players. Having spent a long time in Nepal, he is also well aware of local conditions.
He said he has analyzed the pitch at the TU Cricket Ground and plans to form strategies accordingly.
“There haven’t been many games there recently. We’ll make a strategy based on what we understand, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll adopt another one,” Monty said.
Kathmandu finished fifth last season and failed to reach the playoffs. This time, they aim to improve and target the title.
Biratnagar Kings
Biratnagar Kings have appointed last season’s title-winning coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, as their head coach. However, Pubudu has not yet arrived in Nepal.
He will now lead Biratnagar on the same path that led Janakpur to the title last season. Consultant coach Dhammika Prasad said Pubudu is the best coach in associate cricket and that the team is capable of winning the title under him.
Under Pubudu’s coaching, Nepal had progressed from ICC World Cricket League Division Four to Division One and qualified for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2014.
Currently coaching the USA national team, Pubudu has also maintained the American team in excellent form.
Pokhara Avengers
Pokhara Avengers have continued last season’s coach, Rajiv Kumar, for the second edition as well. After finishing seventh last season, Pokhara are under pressure to improve their results this time.
Local players could not perform well in the first season, so the team is focusing more on them during training this time.
Rajiv is currently training with the team in India, where he met the squad for practice.
Lumbini Lions
Lumbini Lions have appointed India’s Tinu Yohannan as their head coach. India’s Robin Singh will serve as the team’s mentor.
After finishing at the bottom of last season’s table, Lumbini aims to turn things around this season, under the leadership of coach Tinu.
“Last season is already gone, and both the players and the team have learned from it. Now, in the new season, we must do better,” Tinu said.
He said their first target is to qualify for the playoffs and then win the title.
Tinu added that the squad is well-balanced this season.
