The trophy, which was brought from Kathmandu at 9:30 am at Bhairahawa Airport, was welcomed with fanfare.
A trophy tour program was organized in Rupandehi on Saturday ahead of the start of the second edition of the Nepal Premium League (NPL).
The trophy, which was brought from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa Airport at 9:30 am, was welcomed with a bang.
Lumbini Lions Club owner Ishwar GC and Rupandehi Cricket Association President Hari Thapa reached the airport to ‘receive’ the trophy, which was brought with the aim of garnering public support for the NPL. They ‘received’ the trophy at the domestic terminal of Gautam Buddha International Airport. Former national captain Shakti Gauchan, Rupandehi Cricket Association officials, current and former national players were present at the trophy reception program.
NPL team Lumbini Lions players and supporters arrived to welcome them with flags. The Nepal Police band was invited to honor and welcome the trophy. According to Lumbini Lions mentor Shakti Gauchan, the trophy was taken from the airport to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, with a rally and bang. There, the trophy was displayed with the Lumbini Lions Club flag in the Mayadevi Temple premises. After visiting Lumbini, the trophy tour participants came to the Siddhartha Cricket Stadium in Bhairahawa. Lumbini Province Youth and Sports Minister Santosh Pandey and Cricket Association President Thapa welcomed them at the stadium. At the reception organized at the stadium, Lumbini Province Sports Minister Pandey announced that the provincial government would provide a prize of Rs 51,000 if Lumbini Lions won the NPL title. He said that the team players should work hard to win the title with dedication. After the Siddhartha Stadium, the Khukuri Club in Belahiya in Bhairahawa organized a reception program. The trophy was also displayed there. At the event, Lumbini Lions owner GC expressed confidence that Lumbini will win the NPL trophy this time. He informed that the trophy tour was organized to garner public support for the NPL and the trophy. After the program in Belahiya, the trophy was taken to the Extratech Oval Cricket Stadium in Tilottama Municipality.
Extratech is the home ground of Lumbini Lions. There, Extratech Chief Binod Kunwar expressed his respect for the trophy and the players. After that, a tour of the archaeological and historical sites of Butwal Sub-metropolitan City was conducted. In the evening, the trophy was taken to Siddhababa Dham on the border of Rupandehi and Palpa. Then, the tour concluded with a formal program at the Vishram Vatika Hotel in Manigram, Gauchan informed.
