ZSM had originally planned for three events under the NPL including the two-day, 50-over and Twenty20 cricket but it was only able to complete the 50-over tournament last year while calling off the two-day games. Amidst a tight international schedule, ZSM was unable to complete the Twenty20 event, while telecommunication giants Ncell had also pulled out their sponsorship from the tournament.

ZSM on Wednesday announced the new sponsors for NPL setting March 26-April 4 date for the T20 event at the Tribhuvan University Stadium. The tournament will now be named Wai Wai NPL Twenty20.

“I am thankful to the CG Foods for joining hands with NPL. CG Foods has always been supporting Nepali cricket at various levels. NPL is going to be a different flavour altogether and I am sure we will work together closely to develop cricket in Nepal,” said Aamir Akhtar, Managing Director of ZSM.

The NPL is contested between six franchise teams from different corporate houses of the country. Tej of Panchakanya Group, Colors X Factors of Teletalk Pvt Ltd, Vishal Group Warriors of Vishal Group, Kantipur Gurkhas of Kantipur Publications, Jagdamba Giants of Shanker Group and Sagarmatha Legends of Ghorahi Cement are the six NPL franchises.

The franchises are led by national team cricketers. Tej had won the 50-over event held in Dhangadi and Kanchanpur under the captaincy of Sharad Vesawkar. National team skipper Paras Khadka leads Vishal Group Warriors, Basanta Regmi captains Kantipur Gurkhas and 50-over finalists Giants is skippered by Shakti Gauchan. Binod Bhandari (Legends) and Gyanendra Malla (X Factors) are other captains in the NPL.

The Twenty20 at the TU grounds in Kirtipur will have a free entry with the organisers planning to give glitzy colours to the event. ZSM had originally set Rs 200,000 as the cash purse for the Twenty20 winners but Akhtar said there will be definite increase in the prize money.