The EPL Pvt Ltd on Thursday announced the date of the Everest Premier League (EPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament.

The franchise-based T20 tournament opens on December 8 and ends on December 22 at the Tribhuvan University Stadium, the organisers informed on Thursday. “As mandatory obligation, we have already sent required documents seeking approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on August 5,” said EPL managing director Aamir Akthar here on Thursday. “We are expecting to get the ICC approval by November as the world cricket governing body usually takes 2-3 months (to go through the details) before giving a go ahead,” added Akhtar.

The EPL, the most colourful domestic Twenty20 competition of the country, sees six city-based teams in action for 15 days. According to Akhtar, the match days of the tournament have been increased by three days. “Three weekends (Saturdays) fall during the period which is good from the perspective of spectators,” said Akhtar.

Akthar added that they were focusing on the bringing more high profile foreign players and coaches this time around. “The tournament may have been scheduled for December but we have been preparing for it since January. We are working on bringing high profile players this season as it will help put Nepal on the global map,” he said.

As per the tournament regulation it is mandatory for each team to field three foreigner players in the squad. Kathmandu Kings XI, one of the six franchises, have already announced recruitment Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza, Irish batsman Kevin O’Brien and United Arab Emirates skipper Rohan Mustafa in the squad. Chitwan Tigers had announced former England U-19 skipper Max Holden and another English county cricketer James Fuller as two of its recruits.

Biratnagar Warriors, Lalitpur Patriots, Bhairahawa Gladiators and Pokhara Rhinos are the four other teams in the tournament. Warriors, led by national team skipper Paras Khadka, are the defending champions. They beat Sharad Vesawkar-led Gladiators in the title showdown.