Saif Zaib was named Player of the Series in the first edition of the Nepal Premier League (Cricket). In that event, the English all-rounder led his team Sudurpaschim Royals to the final. However, the Royals lost to Janakpur Bolts by 5 wickets in the final.

Jaib played an innings of 69 runs in the final, but it was not enough to win the title for the Royals. Jaib scored 275 runs in 9 matches of the NPL. He was fourth in the list of highest run-scorers in the first season of the NPL. He also took 12 wickets. But Jaib will not be seen in the yellow jersey of the Royals in the NPL this time. He is now playing for Chitwan Rhinos.

American-born Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Milantha, who played for Janakpur, overtook Jaib in the final. Wicketkeeper/batter Milantha scored 87 runs in 49 balls, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes, and not only became the winner, Milantha surpassed Janakpur Royals, but also became the highest run-scorer in the NPL. Player of the Final Milantha will play from Janakpur this time too.

Jaib and Milantha's statistics show the influence of foreign players in the NPL. This time too, the role of foreign players is certain to be prominent. According to the rules of the NPL, a team will have 7 Nepalis and 4 foreign players in the playing 11.

Even though the quota of foreign players is low, their influence is greater. Franchise teams have different methods when it comes to foreign players. Some are preparing to dominate the game by bringing in famous players and gaining attention. Others are trying to dominate the field by bringing in players who are in good form. The role of foreign players is big, and whichever team benefits the most from it, that team will also look strong for the title.

If Janakpur continues with Milantha, Jimmy Neesham will not be with the team. He scored runs with a strike of almost 200 last season. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not fully recognized the NPL, due to which only 4 players currently playing from Test nations can come and play in the NPL. That is, only 4 teams out of eight franchise teams will be able to play 1-1 'cap' player. Pokhara Avengers have joined the NPL as Janakpur has not received a quota of 'cap' players. There is a provision that even if a Test player has been out of the national team for two years, he can come and play in the NPL. Janakpur is playing South Africa's Imran Tahir and Wayne Parnell. Janakpur has succeeded in bringing 46-year-old leg-spin magician Tahir and left-handed Parnell to the NPL as they have not played for South Africa for the last two years. Tahir has already played for 50 teams while playing in the global league. Nepal will be his new destination. Australia's Chris Lynn, who is going to play for Sudurpaschim, is another experienced player. Lumbini Lions has taken Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib, Karnali Yaks has taken Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran, and Sudurpaschim has taken New Zealand's Scott Kuggeleijn. Fast bowler Kuggeleijn tied with Janakpur's Lalit Rajbanshi for the highest wicket-taker of 17 in the first season. Pokhara has included Neesham in the 'cap' list. But since he is affiliated with Dubai Capitals in the UAE's IL T-20 starting December 2, Neesham is likely to play only 4 games for Pokhara. 

Biratnagar Kings is currently the most talked about in terms of bringing in foreign players. The team has signed South Africans Faf du Plessis and Merchant de Lange, New Zealand's Martin Guptill, Scotland's George Muncie and Australia's Sam Hezlet. Du Plessis' announcement has taken Biratnagar's branding to a new level.

When will du Plessis come to play in the NPL and how many matches will he play? It is not certain. Du Plessis is a player contracted to Vista Riders in the Abu Dhabi T-10. This T-10 will be held from November 18 to 30. If Du Plessis plays the Abu Dhabi T-10 final on November 30, Biratnagar will have played 5 out of 7 group stage matches. The NPL will start on November 17 and the league stage will continue till December 7. 

Biratnagar director Deependra Chaudhary has already said that Du Plessis will only come to play in the NPL in the second half. Like Tahir, Du Plessis has played in almost all franchise leagues in the world. Former New Zealand opening batsman Guptill also played for Biratnagar last season. 

Kathmandu Gorkhaz has brought in players who are currently in form. They have taken Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus, American batsman Milind Kumar, who is in excellent form, and Sunny Patel, who is very popular in Nepali soil. They can play a big role for Gorkhaz in NPL 2. Erasmus scored 110 runs and took 11 wickets while playing for Gorkhaz last year.

Despite being considered a weak team, Chitwan Rhinos surprised many by reaching the playoffs last season. The main reason behind that was two foreign players, Sohail Tanvir and Ravi Wopara. Tanvir, who took 5 wickets in his first match against Kathmandu Gorkhas, took a total of 14 wickets, while Wopara scored 286 runs in 8 matches. Only Milantha's innings in the final pushed Wopara to second place in the list of highest run-scorers. Chitwan has also added England's David Malan to this experienced list. The 38-year-old Malan has not played for England in 2 years. 

In the NPL, 6-6 players from England and the United States, 5-5 from Australia and South Africa, 4 from Namibia, 3 from New Zealand, 2-2 from India, Afghanistan and Scotland. Players from Italy and Uganda are playing in the NPL for the first time. Italy's Thomas Draca plays for Lumbini Lions and Uganda's Alpes Ramjani plays for Chitwan Rhinos. Draca, a right-arm medium-pacer, played a key role in leading Italy to its first World Twenty20 appearance. Born in Mumbai, India, Alpes made his debut for Uganda in 2022. 

12 foreign players who played in the first season of the NPL are playing this season as well. Lumbini Lions is the team that did not continue any foreign player from last season. Lumbini ended the league at the bottom after being weak in the selection of foreign players last season. The team won only 1 out of 7 games. It remains to be seen where the foreign players will lead Lumbini this season, which has brought in Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib and Australia's D'Arcy Short.