Kabiraj Singh Thakuri, who came from Koholpur to support Karnali Yaks at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, is excited. Despite not getting tickets for the inaugural match, he watched the match live at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on Tuesday with his friends.

He and seven friends came to Kathmandu to support Karnali Yaks. Even though he grew up in Kohalpur, he loves his birthplace Karnali very much. His friend Khagendra Shahi, who was with him, says that they will stay in Kathmandu throughout the game. ‘We came from the village to watch the game.’ He has a friend’s room in Baneshwor. We can sleep there at night and come to watch the game in the afternoon,’ he said. ‘We have also arranged money from home to watch the game.’

When the group was seen on the field with the national flag of Nepal, Deepak Oli and Ramkrishna Dhakal, who live in Koteshwor, were wearing Karnali Yaks jerseys with the Karnali Yaks logo on their cheeks. Their home is Rukum.

‘We have come to the field to cheer for Karnali Yaks,’ they said, ‘When I hear the word Karnali and see the players, I feel excited.’ They say that they come to the field every day when Karnali is playing.

However, in Tuesday’s match, Chitwan Rhinos defeated Karnali Yaks by four wickets to make a winning start to the second edition of the Nepal Premier League.

At a time when there is widespread despair in the country, supporters who have come to the stadium say that the cricket festival in Kirtipur is working to instill hope, enthusiasm and excitement in Nepalis rather than the team’s defeat/victory.

Lines of supporters starting outside the stadium hours before the start of the match, traveling all night to reach Kathmandu, making logos on different parts of the body to support their team, carrying the team flag and shouting support, presenting themselves with team-specific costumes, culture and musical instruments are some of the attractive and interesting scenes of the NPL.