Lumbini Lions have become stronger in the upcoming season of Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket after taking Asif Sheikh from the auction.

Asif, the wicketkeeper and opening batsman of the Nepali national team, got his full price in the NPL mini-auction held on Monday. 

Asif played a major role in helping Janakpur Bolts win the NPL title in the first season two years ago.

But in the second season, his lack of consistent performance led to Janakpur falling to the bottom of the table. Asif was the only marquee of the 8 franchise teams selected for the NPL who did not get the responsibility of captaincy. 

Nepali cricketers got a good price in the NPL mini auction held on Monday. Nepali national team wicketkeeper and opening batsman Asif Sheikh was signed by Lumbini Lions for Rs 2 million. Last season, Anil Sah left the captaincy midway through the tournament as Janakpur was performing poorly. But Janakpur replaced him with South African Wayne Parnell. When Parnell was also injured, Janakpur handed over the leadership to another foreign player, Namibian Ian Lofty Eaton. During that match, a long discussion took place between Asif and the Janakpur Bolts' training team in the middle of the field.

Asif had reached the auction after being released for the third season. Asif had been relegated to the 'A' category due to leaving the marquee, due to which his bid would have started at Rs 1 million and ended at a maximum of Rs 1.5 million. However, the NPL organizer, the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN), had set Asif's minimum salary at Rs 1.5 million and a maximum of Rs 2 million, due to which Asif received the same amount as the marquee player.

Seven other teams, apart from Chitwan Rhinos, bid for Asif in Monday's auction. Janakpur Bolts was one of them. After all seven teams bid a maximum of Rs 2 million, Asif reached Lumbini Lions through a 'lucky draw'. Kishore Mahato, who was released from Janakpur, has also reached Lumbini. Lumbini bought him for a ‘base price’ of Rs 1 million. 

Lumbini, which won the title by defeating Sudurpaschim Royals last season, spent the most at the auction at Rs 4.4 million, buying Durgesh Gupta and Akash Tripathi for Rs 5 million each and Araniko Yadav and Ajay Chauhan for Rs 2 million each. Lumbini, with Rohit Poudel as the marquee player, retained Sandeep Jora, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Tilak Bhandari, Dinesh Adhikari and Abhishesh Gautam. 

After Lumbini, Janakpur spent the most at the auction and the team bid Rs 4.1 million 25 thousand on various players. The team bought ‘A’ category Tritaraj Das from Pokhara for Rs 1.5 million. Trita reached Janakpur through a ‘lucky draw’ when other teams also bid. Janakpur has bought Amarsingh Rautela, Abhishek Tiwari and Vishal Patel for Rs 5 lakh each, Reet Gautam for Rs 4 lakh 25 thousand, Santosh Karki for Rs 3 lakh and Ashutosh Pandey and Vishal Susling for Rs 2 lakh each. 

Vivek Yadav, who was out of the NPL last season due to injury, has joined Chitwan Rhinos. Vivek, who is in Lumbini, had to miss the tournament due to injury. Chitwan has bought Vivek, who is in the 'A' category, through a 'lucky draw' by bidding Rs 1.5 lakh. Chitwan, which spent Rs 2.6 lakh in the auction, bought Mausam Dhakal for Rs 3 and Ashok Dhami, Bipin Rawal, Gautam KC and Salauddin Khan for Rs 2 lakh each. 

The other two players who will get Rs 1.5 lakh each are fast bowler Rupesh Kumar Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Arjun Gharti Magar. Rupesh was bought by Biratnagar Kingsley and Arjun by Pokhara Avengers.

Rupesh Kumar Singh, Vivek Yadav, Tritaraj Das, and Arjun Gharti Magar were also bid at Rs 15 lakh each. Karnali Yaks have taken Shubha Kansakar and Sudurpaschim Royals have taken Deepak Bohara by bidding Rs 10 lakh each.