The second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is shaping up to be Nepal's biggest cricket carnival yet. Beginning November 17 (Mangsir 1) at the TU Cricket Ground, the month-long franchise league will feature 32 matches, including 23 under the new floodlights in Tribhuvan University Cricket ground, Kirtipur.
From Faf du Plessis to Chris Lynn, and David Malan to Gulbadin Naib, international heavyweights from Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and several emerging cricket nations are set to take centre stage in Kathmandu.
Australian Stars Bring the Big Bash Energy
The Aussie influence will be strong this year. Chris Lynn and Josh Brown (Sudurpaschim Royals) headline a five-man Australian group that also includes Darcy Short, Sam Heazlett, and all-rounder William Bosisto.
Lynn, famous for his towering sixes in the BBL and IPL, has piled up 8,000+ T20 runs worldwide. Short, the left-hand powerhouse and two-time BBL Player of the Year, links up with Biratnagar Kings, while Bosisto—one of last season’s breakout players—returns to Karnali Yaks after a strong run in the Bangladesh Premier League.
English Depth and Experience
England sends a well-balanced pack of seasoned professionals and rising county talents.
David Malan joins Chitwan Rhinos as the league's top-ranked T20 batter, boasting more than 10,000 career runs and experience from England’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad.
Fellow all-rounder Ravi Bopara continues with Chitwan after finishing as last season’s second-highest scorer.
Also returning are Saif Ali Zaid (Sudurpaschim Royals → Chitwan Rhinos), John Simpson and Ben Charlesworth (Kathmandu Gorkhas), and wicket-keeper Adam Rossington (Pokhara Avengers).
Kiwi Consistency
New Zealand's Martin Guptill (Biratnagar Kings) and Scott Kuggeleijn (Sudurpaschim Royals) remain with their franchises. Guptill's record—9,900 T20 runs and over a decade of international experience—speaks for itself, while Kuggeleijn shared the top wicket tally last season.
Naib, Tanvir and the Asian Connection
Afghanistan's former captain Gulbadin Naib lines up for Lumbini Lions, adding all-round muscle and big-match temperament.
Sohail Tanvir, the Pakistani left-arm veteran, is retained by Chitwan Rhinos after finishing third on last season’s wicket chart. Across his career, Tanvir owns nearly 400 T20 wickets.
South African Firepower Returns to Kathmandu
Three of South Africa's most recognisable names headline this year's recruitment list.
Faf du Plessis, the former Proteas captain and IPL champion, joins as the league's biggest attraction. Known for his athletic fielding and explosive batting, Du Plessis brings with him over 11,000 T20 runs, 200 catches, and a reputation for leadership across global leagues including the IPL, CPL, and SAT20.
Fast bowler Marchant de Lange signs with Biratnagar Kings, adding genuine pace and experience from the IPL and The Hundred.
Meanwhile, Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir will both turn out for Janakpur Bolts, combining left-arm swing and world-class spin. Tahir, at 46, remains one of T20 cricket’s most lethal wicket-takers with 570 scalps in 446 matches.
Emerging Markets Join the Party
The NPL 2025 isn't just about Test-nation talent.
- USA: Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Lahiru Milantha, and Sunny Patel will represent Kathmandu and Sudurpaschim.
- Namibia: Captain Gerhard Erasmus (Kathmandu Gorkhas) and Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Janakpur Bolts) are back—Loftie-Eaton famously smashed a record T20I century in Kirtipur earlier this year.
- Scotland: Explosive opener George Munsey joins Biratnagar Kings, while spinner Mark Watt signs for Karnali Yaks.
- Netherlands: Opener Max O’Dowd also features for Karnali.
- West Indies: Left-arm all-rounder Raymon Reifer stays with Pokhara Avengers.
- Uganda: All-rounder Alpesh Ramjani (Chitwan Rhinos) adds associate-nation flair.
- Italy: Seamer Thomas Draca (Lumbini Lions) becomes the first Italian to appear in the NPL.
Lights, Stars, and a New Era for Nepali Cricket
With brand-new parapets, permanent floodlights, and an upgraded TU Ground ready to host packed night games, NPL 2025 represents a major leap in Nepali franchise cricket.
More international names, prime-time broadcasts, and high-quality matchups promise to make this season not just a tournament—but a celebration of how far Nepali cricket has come.
The action begins November 17, and by the time the lights go out on the final in early December, Kathmandu will have witnessed a truly global cricket spectacle.
