One of the main attractions of the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) will be the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium. The renovated Kirtipur Stadium will be operated by the NPL. A parapet with a capacity of 10,000 spectators has been constructed and it has been made suitable for playing matches at night. For example, floodlights have been installed.

Nepal is about to host a day-night cricket match on a large scale for the first time. Just like in Kirtipur, fans from Pokhara, Biratnagar, Karnali, Chitwan, Sudurpaschim, and Lumbini also want to watch NPL matches in their own places. However, for the time being, that possibility is not possible in any other place except Kathmandu Valley.

The structure of NPL and any league is home and away. From which edition will NPL be held outside the capital? One day it will definitely happen, but when is not possible to say. For a few years, the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium will have to shoulder that responsibility. 

There is a lack of adequate infrastructure to conduct the competition. The NPL franchise teams also have the same problem of practice grounds. Pokhara Avengers, Karnali Yaks, Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Sudurpaschim Royals, Lumbini Lions, Kathmandu Gorkhas, and Janakpur Bolts are forced to struggle to practice due to the lack of a ground. According to the concept of home and away, all teams should have their own ground. But even if there is a ground, they are not fit to play if they are not protected. 

Biratnagar Kings director Dipendra Chaudhary said that they had to go to Mumbai, India, for practice due to the lack of a good ground in the country. Biratnagar had practiced in Mumbai for 11 days. He complained, "It is very difficult not to have a ground for practice. Apart from Kathmandu, there is a ground in Bhairahawa, which is also private. We went to practice at the Baijnathpur ground in Biratnagar, the grass had grown, but there is no quality pitch. We are preparing by coming to Kathmandu. It would have been a great relief if it had been at Tallo Mulpani. At the time of such a major competition, Tallo Mulpani was given to the Tennis Ball League." 

Tallo Mulpani Stadium is owned by the National Sports Council (NSC). The NSC has given permission to operate the Nepal Street Premier League at this ground. The Tennis Ball League held from November 3 to 8 was not recognized by the Nepal Cricket Association. While CAN suspended the Tennis Ball League, the NCP, which is taking credit for the success of the NPL, has remained a mute spectator. The franchise team got the Lower Mulpani ground for practice only after the Tennis Ball League ended. In such a situation, the entire burden was borne by the Kirtipur and Upper Mulpani grounds. CAN has allotted 2 hours each to the 8 franchise teams a day.

Karnali Yaks coach Raju Basnyat also said that they are not able to practice as required. ‘There is no pitch in Karnali, and there is no ground in Kathmandu to prepare according to the plan. CAN also has its own constraints, the ground is available as requested, but it has to be tied up at a specific time. Scenario training cannot be done,’ his complaint was similar to Dipendra’s.

The biggest asset of a franchise is its supporters. For that, it is necessary to prepare at their place. If all the teams had a ground, they would not have to rely only on Kathmandu. Preparations at the local level are of great significance to connect players and supporters and make them feel a sense of belonging. In a professional league, supporters also buy tickets to watch their team practice. This is an additional income for the teams. 

Chitwan Rhinos' problem is no different from other teams. Chitwan went to Delhi for some time to prepare. Coach Kalam Ali, who is practicing within the time given by CAN after returning to Kathmandu, says, 'Due to the time constraints, it is not possible to practice as planned, the fielding is not done well, and the Kirtipur Stadium is also under reconstruction, which has become a problem,' said Coach Ali. 

Sudurpaschim is the hub of cricket in the Far West Province. Players from this province dominate the national team. But this province does not have a field compared to others. Sudurpaschim Royals coach Jagat Tamata says, 'Although there are fields in Birgunj, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Lumbini, and Chitwan, there are fields.

But there is not even that field in Sudurpaschim. FAPLA is currently under construction. There are eight franchise teams, all of whom have been allotted 2-2 hours of time. We have not been able to practice under floodlights. The franchise teams have to go to home and away format at some point. Therefore, infrastructure construction should also be prioritized from now on.'

This year, 22 matches of the NPL will be played under floodlights. The first match of the day will start at 11.15 am and 12:45 pm. The day-night matches are scheduled to be played at 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Even according to this schedule, the teams have not had a chance to practice. CAN is also struggling to coordinate the grounds.

CAN manager Binod Das said that Kirtipur is being overloaded due to lack of grounds. He said that the reconstruction work of the grounds where the competition will be held has not been completed. Manager Das said that it is not easy to arrange 2-2 hours for the eight teams. 

When another team arrives, players are forced to leave the grounds before completing their practice. According to Das, if the lower Mulpani had been used, it would not have been so difficult. The NRC had already given permission for another competition, and the ground was vacated just a few days ago. He said that CAN should be allowed to operate the grounds built for cricket. This would have made it easier to manage the ground.

On the other hand, the council has a different opinion. Council member-secretary Tanklal Ghising argues that CAN should have told CAN that the ground was necessary. CAN said that it did not ask the council for the lower Mulpani ground for practice. He said, “I am not even aware that there was a demand for the ground, it must have been kept in mind.” Member-secretary Ghising said that the Nepal Street Premier League had asked for the ground long ago.

He claims that when lower Mulpani was given to someone else, it was given to others only after CAN said that it did not have any program at that time. This time too, the general administration branch sent a letter to CAN and got permission to hold the street league.