Home / Sports / Cricket Fans Travel Far for NPL Matches
Cricket Fans Travel Far for NPL Matches
1 Nov
Summary
- Fans travel from distant provinces to Kathmandu for NPL.
- DRS costs drive all 32 matches to a single Kirtipur venue.
- Mulpani cricket ground project remains stalled since 2011.
Cricket enthusiasts are journeying from across Nepal to Kirtipur for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League. This national draw, however, features all 32 matches at a single venue, the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, which has seen infrastructure upgrades.
The decision for a single venue stems from the substantial financial and technical demands of implementing the Decision Review System (DRS) this season. Organizers cite the complexity of managing multiple grounds, including pitch readiness, accommodation, security, and broadcasting, as prohibitive for a developing league.
This centralized approach limits local fan engagement and economic benefits to provinces such as Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Janakpur. Instead, hotels, transport, and food services in these regions see minimal impact, unlike the Kathmandu Valley.
Efforts to establish a second cricket ground at Mulpani, initiated around 2011 with significant government funding, have failed to materialize. The Mulpani Cricket Academy project, designated a national pride project, remains unbuilt.
