In a sports competition, on-field skills are mesmerizing. But off-field management skills are equally important. If off-field work and skills are not transparent, doubts arise about the successful competition itself, and negative emotions develop.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
For the next month or so, the most talked-about words in the Nepali sports world will be cricket-related words like run and wicket. The second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the grandeur of Nepali cricket, which begins on Monday with the match between Janakpur Bolts and Kathmandu Gorkhas, is sure to make the sports world cricket-centric.
Although Nepal has already had Dhangadhi Premier League, Pokhara Premier League and Everest Premier League, the NPL, organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) under its full ownership, has high-level discussion and potential.
The competition has connected domestic and foreign players, physical and digital viewers, small traders selling water to the business families operating franchise teams. As a result, the NPL will provide a slight boost in Nepal, where economic activity has slowed down. Established players will have an opportunity to practice and new players to show their abilities. This is the unique aspect of any domestic competition. The cooperation of all parties is indispensable to complete it with grandeur.
Eight franchise teams Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts, Kathmandu Gorkhas, Chitwan Rhinos, Pokhara Avengers, Lumbini Lions, Karnali Yaks and Sudurpaschim Royals will participate in the second edition of the NPL. Players from the Nepali national team, other established and emerging talents and talented players from different countries will also be present in these teams.
The names of franchises are linked to provincial and regional identities. Therefore, the NPL is not only a cricket festival, but also an opportunity to express one's commitment to federalism. In a context where political upheavals are delaying the establishment of federalism in the minds of the people, the NPL achieved extraordinary success in its first tournament. Throughout the tournament, most supporters were emotionally connected to the franchise team representing their respective provinces. Therefore, it is certain that the NPL has contributed and will continue to contribute to expanding federalism from the administrative structure to the spirit and identity.
The NPL will become a common platform for established players within the country, new talents selected from the 'Talent Hunt' and foreign players brought in by the franchises. This will bring multifaceted benefits. First, the NPL can be considered as a preparation for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup for the national team players. They can further improve themselves by playing with domestic and foreign players for about a month. They can increase their confidence. Secondly, new talents within the country will be able to show their abilities to domestic and foreign players and gain experience. This will greatly help them move forward. Because, it is a rare opportunity for new talents selected from the ‘Talent Hunt’ to partner and compete on the field with famous players from different countries. Thirdly, foreign players who come to play in the NPL are the ‘brand ambassadors’ of Nepal and Nepali cricket. They will receive love and goodwill from the Nepali audience, will also earn the prescribed income, and in return, will promote Nepali cricket around the world.
The NPL was started last year as an ambitious competition. The competition was successful with wide participation. The audience also got a lot of entertainment. Since then, the NPL has been considered a milestone for the development of Nepali cricket. However, our infrastructure, ability to invest in infrastructure, market, mentality to invest in cricket, and the lower-level structures that help produce players are all weak.
Nevertheless, if positive development and achievements are achieved in every competition, it will create hope and enthusiasm over time. Certainly, there have been physical improvements to the cricket ground at Tribhuvan University this year compared to the previous year. Mainly, floodlights have been installed. And, the opening match of the tournament is being played under floodlights. However, the practice of using technology in cricket has reached its peak, and Nepali viewers have also seen the dominance of technology in the IPL held in India. If the same kind of technology is used in Nepal in the coming days, the NPL will reach further heights.
An event like the NPL cannot be successful only with the dedication of the organizers, franchises, players or coaches. The cooperation of the audience is also equally necessary. Indeed, Nepali viewers are known all over the world in terms of physical and digital engagement. CAN has the challenge of developing the cricket atmosphere and making it a reliable source of income. Since the first phase of the NPL was successfully completed and there is a possibility of success this time too, it seems to be becoming the basis for its continuation.
For this, priority should be given to developing cricket from the grassroots level, ensuring the financial life of the players, and 'branding' opportunities like the NPL. In a sports competition, on-field skills are mesmerizing. But off-field management skills are equally important. If off-field work and skills are not transparent, doubts arise about a successful competition and negative feelings develop. Therefore, we must move forward by correcting the weaknesses of previous competitions. Transparency and accountability must be ensured.
