Title contenders and departmental side Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club will take on Milan Cricket Club of Jhapa in the inaugural match of the Attariya Women’s Twenty20 cricket tournament on Thursday.

The United Attariya Sports Club, the organisers, announced the fixtures of the event on Monday and said they have completed all the necessary preparations of the six-team tournament. The tournament is the highest cash prize tournament so far in the history of Nepali women’s cricket with the champions receiving Rs 200,000. The runners-up will take home Rs 100,000. The best player will earn Rs 25,000, while the best batswoman, bowler and wicketkeeper will get Rs 10,000 apiece.

“We just need some final touches and eagerly await for the tournament to begin. Since Nepal have not seen national level tournaments in the recent years, this tournament is certainly going to be a good exposure for our cricketers,” said Rabi Khanal, President of the United Attariya Sports Club. All the matches will be played at the APF grounds in Attariya.

APF and Milan Cricket Academy are in Group ‘A’ alongside Kanchanpur Women’s Cricket Team, while Rising Cricket for Women of Kathmandu, Kailali District Cricket Academy and Bara Cricket Academy are pitted in Group ‘B’. Top two teams from each pool will enter the semi-finals with the final scheduled for May 9. The tournament will also see five cricketers from India and Bangladesh playing for the participating teams.

Khanal thanked everyone supporting the event. “To get sponsors and support for women’s cricket is very difficult and we are thankful that we managed to lure some sponsors for the event. This will really help in the development of women’s cricket,” Khanal said during a tiesheet drawing programme on Monday. The estimated cost of the tournament is Rs 2.5 million.