The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 began on Saturday, November 30, with an exciting match where Janakpur Bolts defeated Biratnagar Kings by eight wickets in the opening game, held at Kirtipur, Nepal.
NPL 2024 Overview:
Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal, the NPL 2024 features eight teams competing in a total of 32 T20 matches. The teams include:
- Janakpur Bolts
- Biratnagar Kings
- Chitwan Rhinos
- Karnali Yaks
- Kathmandu Gurkhas
- Lumbini Lions
- Pokhara Avengers
- Sudurpaschim Royals
Each team will face the other seven teams once in a single round-robin format during the league stage. After all league matches, the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
Playoff Structure:
- Eliminator: The third-placed team will face the fourth-placed team on December 18, 2024.
- Qualifier 1: The first and second-placed teams will compete in Qualifier 1 on December 18, 2024, for a direct entry into the final.
- Qualifier 2: The winner of the Eliminator will face the loser of Qualifier 1 for the second spot in the final.
- Final: The NPL 2024 Final will be held on December 21, 2024.
Match Venue:
All matches will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Notable Players:
Some of the prominent international players participating in the NPL 2024 include:
- Shikhar Dhawan (Karnali Yaks)
- Martin Guptill (Biratnagar Kings)
- James Neesham (Janakpur Bolts)
- Ben Cutting (Lumbini Lions)
- Bas De Leede and Andries Gous (Pokhara Avengers)
NPL 2024 Points Table Format:
The league follows a single round-robin format in the league phase. Teams will earn two points for a win and one point for a tie. In case of a points tie between teams, Net Run Rate (NRR) will determine the rankings, with the team having the superior NRR ranked higher.
Current Points Table (as of Nov 30, 2024):
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Janakpur Bolts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2.102 |
| 2 | Chitwan Rhinos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 3 | Karnali Yaks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 4 | Kathmandu Gurkhas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 5 | Lumbini Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 6 | Pokhara Avengers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 7 | Sudurpaschim Royals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 8 | Biratnagar Kings | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2.102 |
The standings will evolve as more matches are played throughout the tournament.