Issuing a press release on Tuesday, CAN said a majority of the NPL Governing Council — formed jointly by the cricket governing body and ZSM for smooth functioning of the tournament — members have resigned and it is no more a CAN-organised event.

The latest move is set to expose a division in CAN as its President Tanka Angbuhang called it an ‘unofficial’ decision which is against the development of cricket. The governing council — comprising of CAN senior vice-president TB Shah, Kiran Rana, Diwakar Ghale, Arun Satyal, Naresh Shrestha, Dhirendra Saud and Sailesh Chaudhary — has questioned the transparency of ZSM and its approach of running the show alone.

“Zohra Sports Management (ZSM) have not informed the governing council about its income and expenditure. It is running all the programmes of Ncell NPL without consulting us which is against the guidelines set by the Asian Cricket Council and International Cricket Council for a domestic league. As majority of members in the governing council have resigned, CAN cannot be deemed as organisers,” the statement from the cricket governing body read.

After ZSM announced the introduction of NPL in February, CAN had put the tournament on hold saying the ACC and ICC were concerned on a private firm hosting the tournament. By the second week of March, CAN gave green signal to NPL by taking the ownership of the event and forming governing council which was subjected to look after the transparency and technical aspects.

Angbuhang, who is in Dhangadi to inaugurated the 50-over tournament, called the decision one sided. “A (CAN) decision made in the absence of President cannot be an official one. The governing council itself has followed no procedures. This is against the development of cricket and no one is going to support it,” Angbuhang told The Kathmandu Post.

“I think that the tournament has followed all the guidelines. The NPL will go smoothly and no one can stop it,” added the president. Though CAN has stated a very few reasons over the governing council’s grievances over ZSM, handing over players’ and umpires’ match-fee to CAN were some of the issues of resentment.

CAN member Kiran Rana admitted the issue of handing the match fees was one of the issues. “ZSM had agreed on presenting us the players and umpires’ match fee but its MD Amir Akhtar left for Dhangadi saying he has to discuss the matter with lawyers first,” said Rana.

Akhtar, however, said the issue has already been resolved as CAN has received the money following a meeting between players, Angbuhang and National Sports Council Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama. “Cricketers refused to play NPL if the match fees were handed over to CAN,” he said. “They had no faith on CAN because their monthly allowances and money earned through the Journey To World Cup has not been paid till date,” said Akhtar.

“After the players were guaranteed the match fees by president and Lama, I have already handed over a cheque of Rs 910,000. I am surprised to see the turn of the event from the governing council,” added Akhtar.   Akhtar said he is ready to disclose income and expenditure of the tournament if the governing council of NPL needs it in writing.