The National Sports Council is organising the third PM Cup One-Day National cricket tournament at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on May 15-June 7.

The sports governing body of Nepal on Sunday handed over the management rights to Nepalaya International. In all, seven provincial and three departmental teams—Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal APF Club—will vie for the championship. The teams will be divided into two pools and the top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

The National Sports Council member secretary Keshav Kumar Bista and Subash Pradhan of Nepalaya International signed the memorandum of understanding for the 50-over tournament. The estimated cost of the tournament is Rs 17.5 million and NSC will provide Nepalaya Rs 8 million. Napalaya will be responsible to generate the remaining amount to organise the tournament.

The eventual champions will receive Rs 2 million and the runners-up will get Rs 1 million. The best player of the tournament will ride home a two-wheeler while the best batsman and best bowler will get Rs 50,000 each. In an effort to pull crowds to the ground, the organisers also announced Rs 50,000 reward for a spectator who first completes a single-handed catch on a six struck by a batsman.

Member Secretary Bista said the NSC had to take the initiative in organising the 50-over tournament in the absence of cricket governing body. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is under ICC suspension since 2016 for what the world cricket governing body said the needless government interference. “We will release only the required amount that will cover prize money and ground handling to the event management company,” said Bista.

“Nepal have earned the coveted One-Day International status recently but cricketers have hardly played 50-over tournaments for some time,” said Pradhan of the Nepalaya indicating the lack domestic cricket in the absence of CAN. “This tournament will definitely play a big part to give them a much-needed exposure,” said Pradhan. Nepal earned the ODI status in March last year.