Title favourites Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) will take on Eastern Development Region as Nepal’s highest cash prize 50-over event Prime Minister’s Cup One Day National cricket tournament begins at the TU Stadium from Tuesday.

The eight-team league-cum-knockout tournament organised by the National Sports Council (NSC) offers a cash Rs 2 million to the champions— the highest any team will be getting in the domestic cricket history. The runners-up will get Rs 1 million, while the losing semi-finalists will get Rs 50,000 apiece.

Nepal Police Club (NPC), Far-western Development Region, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club, Mid-western Development Region and Western Development Region are the other teams in the event, which is first 50-over tournament Nepal has seen in the last three years. APF, Central, Mid-western and Western are in Group ‘A’. Top two teams from each group will enter the semi-finals.

Event manager Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) on Monday said it has completed all the preparations for the tournament.

“If Nepali cricket is to move ahead, it’s through the 50-over game. Nepali cricket has been needing this kind of professional set up and we are very thankful to the government that it initiated for this,” said Gyanendra Malla who runs KCTC.

Malla will be leading the APF team in absence of regular captain and national team skipper Paras Khadka who is currently in the United States of America for personal reasons. Another national team star Sharad Vesawkar will skipper Central Region, while Manjeet Shrestha is the captain of NPC. Subhendu Pandey (Midwest), Binod Bhandari (NPC), Surendra Chand (Farwest), Pushpa Thapa (Eastern) are the other captains.

Western Region are yet to announce their skipper. Vesawkar highlighted the importance of the tournament, adding: “We are a small team but we will look to beat the big teams. We will be at the ground to give a tough contest to other sides.” Bhandari, who probably heads a star-studded lineup in domestic cricket, said his side was very much prepared.

“The way how we have been preparing these days perfectly suits this tournament. As players, we are very much excited and the boys are raring to go,” said Bhandari as the captains and their jerseys were unveiled on Monday. National team coach and tournament director Jagat Tamatta had high hopes from the tournament.

“This tournament no doubt will carry a huge significance because we are taking it as the players’ selection for the upcoming World Cricket League Championship matches against Hong Kong in October. We are hopeful that talents will come forward in this format,” added Tamatta.

While each team will also get a winning bonus of Rs 25,000 for every victory at the league stage, the player-of-the-series will pocket Rs 100,000. The best bowler and batsman of the tournament will get Rs 50,000 apiece and the emerging player of the tournament will collect Rs 25,000.