Sports
DPL inks sponsorship deal
Dhangadi Premier League (DPL) Twenty 20 cricket tournament inked sponsorship deal with Ruslan Cricket on Sunday.Dhangadi Premier League (DPL) Twenty 20 cricket tournament inked sponsorship deal with Ruslan Cricket on Sunday.
The tournament, played between city-based franchise teams, starts on January 19 in Dhangadi. As per the deal, organisers Dhangadi Cricket Academy (DCA) will get Rs 3.5 million from Ruslan Cricket of Vijay Distillery.
The tournament will be branded as Ruslan DPL and the chief sponsor will also spend additional Rs 3.5 million on branding.
DCA president Subash Shahi and Jawalakhel Group of Industries president Srihar Sumsher Rana signed the memorandum of understanding on Sunday.
The organisers are considering to add two more teams to the six that competed last year. “We are in discussion to add two more teams but nothing is final yet,” said Shahi. Shahi hoped that the tournament will go ahead on the scheduled date considering that Nepal have no international commitment during the period.
The first edition featured six teams in Chauraha Dhangadi, CYC Attariya, Rupandehi Challengers, Kanchanpur Iconic, Kathmandu Goldens and Biratnagar Kings. “DPL is the biggest domestic tournament of the country and players are very much excited,” said national team skipper Paras Khadka who led Team Chauraha Dhangadi to the title triumph last year. “Players are very eager to find their places in the DPL teams,” said Khadka.
DCA also increased hefty amount on prize money with the champions taking home Rs 2.5 million and the runners-up earning Rs 1 million. The third-placed team will get Rs 300,000 and the fourth-place side Rs 200,000.
The top two teams—Chauraha and Biratnagar Kings—earned Rs 1.5 million and Rs 700,000 last year.
Man-of-the-match of each game will be rewarded with Rs 10,000 each and man-of-the-series will win TVS Apache motorbike. The expected cost of the tournament is Rs 30 million.
The tournament will be played in the round robin format with the top four teams to make it to the playoffs.
The table topper and runner up will vie for a place in the final while the losing side will play the winner between third and fourth placed team for ticket into final.