Queen’s Event Management Pvt Ltd on Thursday unveiled the teams and marquee players of the Pokhara Premier League (PPL).

The city-based franchise event is set for October 26 to November 6 in Pokhara with six teams participating in the Twenty20 competition. Biratnagar Titans, Chitwan Rhinos, Pokhara Paltan, Butwal Blasters, Expert Dhangadhi Blues and Hulas Kathmandu Royals are the teams confirmed for this season. The franchises are owned by different business houses.

National team skipper Paras Khadka is the marquee player of Rhinos, while his deputy Gyanendra Malla was roped in by Royals. Teenaged leg-spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane will play as marquee for Titans and Sharad Vesawkar will be leading the Paltan. National team middle order batsman Dipendra Singh Airee (Blues) and seamer Sompal Kami (Blasters) are other two marquee players.

The tournament will preceded by auction of the cricketers which is scheduled for September 30. The registration of the cricketers for the auction has already been closed. For the first time in the country’s franchise cricket history, the players have been given the rights to raise their base price amount.

Toyanath Aryal, Dhangadhi Blues owner, said there was a genuine reason to get team for PPL. “Considering the recent results, Nepali cricket is connecting all the Nepalese together. This is one of the reasons we wanted to be associated with the tournament. We hope that government does its bit to do something for our cricketers,” said Aryal.

National team skipper Khadka was happy to get another new league in the country. PPL is third professional Twenty20 league in Nepal after Dhangadhi Premier League and Everest Premier League. “This is new investment in Nepali cricket which is no doubt going to be very helpful in the development of the game. Additionally, cricket is now going to a place which in itself is best tourist destination of Nepal. This tournament will help in our bid to make Pokhara as a cricket hub,” the skipper said.

National team coach Jagat Tamatta believed the PPL will give enough exposure to budding talents. Queen’s Managing Director Chhumbi Lama expected PPL to establish Nepal in the world map. “This is going to be one of the biggest events of the country. We are very hopeful that the picturesque ground in Pokhara will be able to drag international attention and it helps in making Pokhara a neutral venue for international matches,” said Lama.

Pokhara Premier League

Teams    Marquee Player    Owner

Biratnagar Titans    Sandeep Lamichhane    Paras Luniya

Chitwan Rhinos    Paras Khadka    Resham Bohora

Pokhara Paltan    Sharad Vesawkar    Binayak Pokhrel

Butwal Blasters    Sompal Kami    Naresh Gautam

Dhangadhi Blues    Dipendra Singh Airee    Toyanath Aryal

Kathmandu Royals    Gyanendra Malla    Ashutosh Kumar Yadav